One of the arguments for slavery was that blacks were inherently inferior. You would have to adhere to that sentiment in order to believe blacks couldn't/wouldn't/didn't learn skills from their masters by just doing the work required.
If you work in a plantation, and you have a brain, you're going to develop farming skills. Whether that's in order to avoid beatings, to self-improve, or in spite of yourself, it's going to happen.
I'm not sure why this is controversial, unless the other side believes blacks actually are inherently inferior.
One of the arguments for slavery was that blacks were inherently inferior. You would have to adhere to that sentiment in order to believe blacks couldn't/wouldn't/didn't learn skills from their masters by just doing the work required.
If you work in a plantation, and you have a brain, you're going to develop farming skills. Whether that's in order to avoid beatings, to self-improve, or in spite of yourself, it's going to happen.
I'm not sure why this is controversial, unless the other side believes blacks actually are inherently inferior.