• Flying Squid@lemmy.world
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    10 months ago

    I’m not sure how quoting a man saying ‘A black man in a free State is worth just two-fifths more than a black man in a slave State,’ proves that the 3/5ths compromise is not racist.

    • doctordevice@lemm.ee
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      10 months ago

      Because it’s not the clause that invokes racism, it’s the practice of slavery. The clause, as Douglass points out, promotes freedom.

      • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
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        10 months ago

        He also points out it’s about black people. Why are you ignoring that part when you quoted it?

        • doctordevice@lemm.ee
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          10 months ago

          I’m not. I’m objecting to your saying the clause was racist when its very purpose was anti-slavery. Slavery is the thing that is racist.

          I think a Civil War era leader on abolitionism and civil rights would know what he’s talking about when he describes the clause as supporting his cause.

            • doctordevice@lemm.ee
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              10 months ago

              I think you should read it again. He’s saying even taking the worst possible interpretation, the clause promotes freedom for slaves.

              • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
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                10 months ago

                Okay, I’ll read it again.

                Yep, it still says “A black man in a free State is worth just two-fifths more than a black man in a slave State”

                • doctordevice@lemm.ee
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                  10 months ago

                  Yeah, because the clause doesn’t distinguish based on race like you said it did. It was on freedom. And it served to limit the political power of slavers.

                  Everyone always brings it up as if the clause was some evil thing when it was in fact a fight against the evil of slavery.