READING CHECK || Slavery: "Separating Fact from Myth"

According to the author, what is one problem with people believing myths about slavery?

• They won't help African-Americans who have slaves in their family tree be paid now.
• They won't be able to share important facts about the history of slavery.
• They may not understand why slavery in America is important to study and talk about.
• They may not be interested in watching television shows about slavery.

Most historians date slavery in America to which year when 20 enslaved Africans were brought to the English colony in Jamestown, Virginia?

• 1600
• 1619
• 1746
• 1776

TRUE or FALSE: "Slavery was unique to the English colonies and the early United States."

• TRUE
• FALSE

Approximately what PERCENTAGE of citizens in the southern United States owned slaves during the Antebellum Era?

• 5% of citizens owned enslaved people during the Antebellum era
• 10% of citizens owned enslaved people during the Antebellum era
• 25% of citizens owned enslaved people during the Antebellum era
• 50% of citizens owned enslaved people during the Antebellum era

What AMENDMENT to the Constitution outlawed slavery in the United States?

• The 1st Amendment banned slavery in the United States.
• The 10th Amendment banned slavery in the United States.
• The 13th Amendment banned slavery in the United States.
• The 14th Amendment banned slavery in the United States.

How did slave owners profit from work differently than slaves?

• Slaves were not paid because they were property, so slave owners kept all earnings from slave work.
• Slaves were bought and sold, while slave owners were never treated as property.
• Slaves were able to keep the money they made, but they could not own land like slave owners could.
• Slaves never received money for their work, and slave owners spent most of their profit buying more slaves.

Which of the following claims is supported by logical reasons and evidence in the article?

• While not everyone in the south owned slaves, there are still differences in wealth today based on race.
• Slavery in America became illegal 152 years ago, so it is unlikely to happen again in America.
• The television show "Roots" is a very accurate representation of slavery, and it is still shown in schools.
• Lupe Fiasco's music about the impact of slavery in America should be used to teach people about the modern impact of slavery.

HOW does the author convey the historical significance of people being sold as merchandise?

• by describing the value of Guy and Andrew by today's standards, which would be $33,000 to $40,000
• by describing the range of settings and scale of slave sales to illustrate how common the practice of rating and selling humans as goods was
• by highlighting a three-year-old girl's detailed personal story recalling her experience of being sold as a slave
• by detailing the rating system that was used to determine the value of a slave

HOW do some families of enslaved people justify their desire for reparations?

• Slave-owning families became disproportionately wealthy compared to slaves, but this wealth was built from slave labor.
• Slaves were never compensated for their work, so families of slave owners are obligated to pay descendants of slaves today by giving up land.
• Slave owners unjustly purchased people and treated them as objects, which is both inhumane and immoral.
• Slave owners were over-represented in government because of their wealth and influence, even after slavery was outlawed.

HOW does the section "Slaves were Valuable Objects" support the author's argument?

• It provides details about how an enslaved person's value changed throughout their life to show how complicated the system of slavery was and why people need to learn more about it.
• It demonstrates why it is wrong for people to assume they know everything about slavery and to encourage people to rethink their understanding.
• It shows how slaves of all ages and abilities were sold as property only 150 years ago to argue that the families of slave owners should pay the families of slaves today.
• It highlights how slaves were treated as less than human to show the lasting impact slavery has had on African-Americans.