this post was submitted on 15 Jan 2026
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History Memes

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If Johnny could think, he'd probably be in Blue (media.piefed.social)
submitted 2 days ago by PugJesus@piefed.social to c/historymemes@piefed.social
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[–] PugJesus@piefed.social 31 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Explanation: During the US Civil War, fought over the issue of race-based chattel slavery, many Southern rebels (colloquially, 'Johnny Reb') volunteered to fight for the slaver South despite many of them being quite poor themselves.

Because they weren't rich... but someday they might be!

[–] Broadfern@lemmy.world 6 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Unfortunately a lot of poor(er) whites in the south also had an enslaved person or two under their thumb.

[–] PugJesus@piefed.social 5 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Even those who didn't would sometimes 'rent' slaves out from the big plantation owners when they needed extra labor.

"Look, see how useful our neofeudal system is? A few more generations and you might be a lord like us... if you help keep these slaves down"

[–] RmDebArc_5@feddit.org 4 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Why does this seem so familiar ...

[–] PugJesus@piefed.social 3 points 2 days ago

'Funny' how systems of oppression seem to stumble over the same 'solutions' time and time again...