Not necessarily. Yes, they were free, but many wound up as little better than slaves, sharecropping and living in poverty with no economic supports other than the black communities. They could not vote in many southern states. They were poorly educated. Families had been splintered by slavery. The post above is a pretty naive perspective with little basis in historical fact.

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I'll get nicer when you get smarter.

And folks wonder why blacks in America still believe racism is a huge issue. Scratch many a white democrat, and under the surface talk of tolerance, you will find a huge well of intolerance and racial disdain. It is the hypocrisy that really gets me about this aspect of the Democratic party.

Republicans are often accused of being racists, and yet, they will actively shame the members of their party that behave like this.

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I'll get nicer when you get smarter.

Maybe for alot of White immigrants, but my family are of English descent and have been here since the beginning. I am not under the impression however the my family deserve anything more in this society because we have been the perpretrators for most rascism in this country (White Southern English Ancestry people, ya know, were not Saints ). No oen deserves anything over anyone else in this country. NO ONE SHOULD BE MORE EQUAL THAN ANYONE ELSE.

Concerned about a Black president? Because he is Black? *Insult removed*

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I'll tell you this no eternal reward will forgive us now for wasting the dawn
You may bury my body, down by the highway side,
so my old evil spirit can get a Greyhound bus and ride.
You and I must fight to survive

I wouldn't mind if a Black becomes president so long as they are a conservative. Maybe Condi will get it after 8 years as VP.

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We should invade their countries, kill their leaders and convert them to Christianity. -- Ann Coulter

See, I think there are two different groups here. There are those who would happily vote for a black or female presidential candidate who fits with their values and beliefs. And, then, there are those folks who would never vote for a black person of any ideological background.

The first group aren't racists. The second group, from both parties, are.

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I'll get nicer when you get smarter.

Check into a guy named JC Watts. I think in lumping a group because of a minority you are missing the opportunity. The problem is Barack is the wrong candidate now and at anytime.

I can't let stupid statements stand. First, African Americans are also sacrificing their blood and sweat at the same rate as whites or even more for liberty and justice. Second, most African Americans are hard working employees, and have more money than you wish you are capable of acquiring. Those blacks are committing crimes. Just like white people do crime. Are doing crimes because of the failure of the american family and of law enforcements. The real parasites are individuals *personal insult removed* Who tries to call attention to non-existent problem or problem that is part of our community. Third, African American do not destroy cultures. If you check your history, you will realize who destroy cultures.

It is sad that none of those who admonish Barack for not leaving his church had any members of their family Leave The Pastors of the 1950's-'70's when they spouted venom using worse language: italian ministers calling them 'moulies' , euro-anglo pastors calling them with the N word, Mormons teaching sunday school children that the darkies had tails like beasts... oh Yeah,
How many of your Grandparents Left Their Church Their Pastors who called the Government and Supreme Court Commies when they voted to Integrate this Nation... Yeah, ask them... Nope They Did Not leave...

"He without Sin Cast the First stone... from his glass house... l,
toni

Whatever. I'm just speaking the truth. Many, many whites HAVE NO CONNECTION TO SLAVERY and have only been in this country 100 years or so. So why should they lose their job to a black person becuase of affrimative action? And many blacks want reparations. Should my family have to pay? We've been here 100 years. And who do we pay? Every black person? How many blacks can actually trace their roots to American slavery? How many came to this country from Africa, Haiti, Europe and other places over the last several decades? Do they all get a check?

I'm not concerned about a black President. I'm concerned about a black President whos first priority is to black people and America a distant second. I'm concerned about a man who sat in a church for 20 years and saw nothing wrong with sermons of hate, racism, anti semitism, and anti Americanism. I'm concerned about a man who saw nothing wrong with his church honoring Louis Farrakhan. I'm concerned about a black President who won't wear a USA flag pin or pledge allegience. I'm concerned about a black President who has a "friendly" relationship with a known and admitted terrorist (Ayers).

How many of those people ran for President?