I shouldn’t be surprised, but this is shocking! Here’s one example of a comment on the plight of African-American slaves that Margaret Biser heard giving tours: “Yeah, well, Egyptians enslaved the Israelites, so I guess what goes around comes around!” I think Biser correctly identified the source of the ignorance, indifference, and animosity toward the slaves: “The minimization of the unjustness and horror of slavery does more than simply keep the bad feelings of guilt, jealousy, or anger away: It liberates the denier from social responsibility to slaves’ descendants.”
Read all the other crazy questions and comments Biser heard:
I used to lead tours at a plantation. You won’t believe the questions I got about slavery. – Vox.
The Old Plantation (Slaves Dancing on a South Carolina Plantation), ca. 1785-1795. | Attributed to John Rose
History Chick in AZ 
Just a point or two, I quickly read through your vox blog so please forgive me if I misstep or misquote. (1) I like museums, national parks, and history / science exhibits, especially those that charge a nominal fee; the reason being is the crowd it encourages – nice, quiet, serious people who appreciate what is being offered. As a docent I’m sure you remember and cringe on those bus in the inner city kids days. (2) few if any race apologists will admit that if those millions of Africans weren’t forced to the colonies, their ancestors wouldn’t be here. Yeah their ancestors suffered greatly at multiple evil hands, but their lineage benefitted. Just wondering.
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Thanks for your comment Nigel! But I didn’t write the article. I made a few brief comments on the article and provided the link. And I’m not sure what your point is. If you’re asking if I agree with your second point, I don’t. The fact that some African Americans enjoy some benefits as a result of being in the U.S. (a questionable assumption) can never justify the suffering and cruelty of their ancestors.
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Whenever there is a discussion about the evils of transatlantic slavery, some apologist invariably tries to justify it by suggesting that somehow enslaved Africans benefitted from being subjected to systematic torture, rape and murder. I find this offensive in the extreme.
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I agree! Thanks Annalise!
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