Slavery is such a depressing subject but throughout the reading I've realized how important freedom really is for people. And most importantly , all people. Every ethnicity strives for freedom, because it is essential for happiness. When I was hearing lecture, and listening to the reasons why slaveholders believed the slaves were happy under their care, although the slaveholders did have some good points, they didn't understand the importence of the slaves' freedom. They owned another human being, and it boggles my mind to think they had to come up with ways in order for them to make that alright in their head. Yes, the slaves did have a roof under their head, food, and some clothes, but they never had respect....and most importantly they never had the independence that every human being should. Reading about the slave era, really makes me appreciate they way I live and the freedoms that I was born with, without question.