Part 12/20:
Contrary to popular narratives, the history of slavery in America was complex. Relationships between masters and slaves were often characterized by intimacy and trust, with primary sources documenting instances of intercultural exchange, sexual relations, and mutual dependence. Many prominent African-American figures descend from recent African or Caribbean immigrants, indicating a significant admixture of European ancestry that complicates racial lineages.
The popularization of racial stereotypes and the propagandist framing of slavery have obscured these nuanced realities. The idea that Jews played a central role in the Atlantic slave trade, for example, is unfounded and rooted in conspiracy theories such as those propagated by the Nation of Islam.