Thomas Sowell on the problem of freeing black slaves in the United States

This excerpt is taken from the book Black Rednecks and White Liberals:

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Thomas Sowell is an American economist and political commentator. He taught economics at Cornell University, the University of California, Los Angeles, and since 1980 at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University, where he is currently a Senior Fellow.
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[nathanngumi]

Wow, very enlightening elucidation of the issue of resolution of slavery in USA. Too often people think of this subject in simplistic abstract terms without bothering to consider the real contexts and consequences. Burke was a unique intellectual of the time in that he was clear headed, most of his contemporaries too easily swung to either extreme.

[rKswlBvG]

Thank you, Thomas Sowell. Slavery is abhorrent. But ending it isn't simple.

[erynlasgalen]

People should listen to this before tearing down a statue of Thomas Jefferson or removing his name from a high school. Thank you, Thomas Sowell.

[YSLRD]

To the negative commenters: I doubt Mr. Sowell was in any way defending the abomination that was slavery. He was trying to help us see the thought processes of the time. It's too easy to turn unknown people of the past into devils and angels. Let him open your mind to the nuances.

[vernondecker]

I never thought of it that way, Thomas Sowell a truly wise man who blesses us with thinking, thank-you Mr Sowell you constantly spark thought for me for us all.

[richardsalzer]

Happy birthday, Thomas Sowell. Happy 91st, and thanks for this great work you do.

[lindahinojosa]

I love Dr Thomas Sowell's books. I also love this narrator reading his work, he's easy to listen to. God bless

[waitwhat]

This is too thoughtful for modern day intellectuals.

[TopsideCrisis]

Freedom in and of itself is no gift. Without some sense of direction or purpose, a man freed from the will of another becomes a slave to his own base desires. To be truly free, one needs a context in which to exercise that freedom, in other words, a cause greater than oneself.

[johnstewart]

One freed slave said: “They just turned us out like cows. What were we to do?”

[joliettraveler]

Similar to what Tolstoy said regarding the emancipation of the serfs, 'what now must we do."

[deezynar]

Abandonment.
That is the key word in the whole discussion.
What do abandoned people do? How do they survive?
How do they remain non-violent if they have no honest means to provide for themselves?
Most former slaves stayed where they were and became share croppers for their former owner. It was far from ideal, but it kept them alive. Their children did a bit better.

[dongaetano]

Though I have seen many of Tom's interviews, it's great to see these well done excerpts, which are most likely to be viewed by a greater number of time short people, who just can't or won't view an hour lecture or read a book.
Keep'em coming.

[norawheeler]

Always greatly educational. Much appreciated.

[orbitty]

Wow great video. I'm gonna have to take a moment and think. I used to be mad and say why did it take us so long to free the slaves, now I realize it wasn't easy nor was it gonna end well. I'm just sad that some of us who tried so hard to move forward is up in flames along with our cities.

[HiroNguy]

This is great! These points should be taught in junior high history & social studies.

[rlyle]

I dont believe in cloning, but after learning of Mr. Sowell I may change my mind! lol

[cat]

This is so brilliant. I'm just imagining these people and the history. I need to buy that book.

[robertmatetich]

The realists were prescient and their foresight has been born out. However, after 150 years the problems haven't been addressed. In American culture it's the individuals' responsibility to overcome or adapt to their circumstance. Those who are members of a group in the same circumstance can use that membership to elevate the status of the group and it behooves them to do so. Jews are the best but not the only example of this. Nearly every immigrant group has done so despite lacking money, language, education, or cultural familiarity. They worked for it and helped each other achieve success.

[stephenpowstinger]

Mind-boggling reexamination of this old debate. Sowell is a genius.