Just saw 12 years a slave

[LittleBlue]

36. From what I've read, it depended on region, master, crop and duties of the slave

For instance, the system of placage in New Orleans.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Placage

The sugar plantations were brutal. So many died around the tremendous heat needed to boil the cane that a constant flow of slaves was needed from Africa. Not to mention the disease in such a tropical climate. This was in contrast to a crop like indigo.

House slaves were better off than field slaves. Lighter skinned had it easier than darker skinned. Children and concubines of the master had it relatively easiest of all.

From one autobiography I read, some masters were sadistic monsters. Others, like Ben Franklin I suppose, retained their humanity and saw slavery for what it was.

12 Years a Slave was a really good movie, BTW, and probably accurate in depicting the lives of many who endured under slavery. Saying "treated like members of the family" isn't the way I'd describe hanging a slave through the ribs by a meat hook.