Topic for discussion - manumission

[epeeblade]

(I haven't done one of these in a while, so here goes...)

I was reading the latest bit of A Kept Boy last night when something occurred to me.

In it Jensen vehemently denies being part of any family, and denies any identity other than that of slave. He's not the only one raised from childhood to be the perfect slave.

So what would happen then if the abolitionist movement does pass a manumission clause? Now granted, it's probably not going to cause hundreds of people freeing their slaves en masse, but I can imagine wealthy owners "freeing their slaves" in their will after they pass. What happens to the slaves who can't imagine a life outside of slavery?

(And yes this would probably be AU like whoah, but it's something I'm interested in seeing explored in fic...)

Comments

[i0am0crazy.livejournal.com]

uhmm i think there would just have to be some people helping the newly freed...
like how to get housing,work ect...

in a more radical movement also how to get social security or even be compensated for the free work one did for so many years.

[epeeblade]

We would hope that they'd think of this. That slavery is just sort of intense on the job training, that when they are freed they'll have some sort of skill to market.

The idea of social security doesn't fit in with this version of society. The most altruistic thing one can do, in this messed up world, is to enslave someone, thereby providing them with food, shelter and medical care all in exchange for a little something called freedom...

[i0am0crazy.livejournal.com]

which is exactly why i wrote in a more radical movement because if the people stand up and demand it, all the mighty lords and ladies would piss their pants.=)

[epeeblade]

Heh. Part of me does want to see a more radical movement. The slower way is probably more logical and makes sense for a society that's developed so heavily around slavery. But man, sometimes its frustrating to see such a harsh world with no way out.