"I understand, for instance, how to read a balance sheet." I suggest that Mi$$ Rmoney will win

[jtuck004]

8. Uh, THEY own the assets. And run them.

Why can't they buy it or build just like their old master/owner/boss did? They can borrow, if they can make a business plan, read a balance sheet. And assets are assets, anything that people want or is used to make such.

But buy them a farm? Like this?

"It was dem Carpetbaggers dat ‘stroyed de country. Dey went an’ turned us loose, jus’ lak a passel o’ cattle, an’ didn’ show us nothin’ or giv’ us nothin’. Dey was acres an’ acres o’ lan’ not in use, an’ lots o’ timber in dis country. Dey should-a give each one o’ us a little farm an’ let us git out timber an’ build houses. Dey ought to put a white Marster over us, to show us an’ make us work, only let us be free ‘stead o’ slaves. I think dat could-a been better’n turnin’ us lak dey done."

From “Henri Necaise, ex-slave, Pearl River County,” image 122

"free 'stead o' slaves"?

Surely that's not what you are suggesting?

I tend to start with more respect for people than that.