Slavery was a great injustice that fully warrents an apology. I am glad to see it come. Many of us have had an education that left us with the wrong impression of that dark hour in human history. It was far more than simply working for free. It taught people how to be oppressors. It taught people how to be oppressed. The freedom of no man or woman was safe while some parts of society was free to carry out acts necessary to support and enforce slavery.

James Birney was a brave and great man for realizing and trying to correct this national error. It would have been a pleasure to know him and to hear his thoughts in person. Bay City is honored to have such a founder.