New Hampshire lawmaker Werner Horn: 'Owning slaves doesn't make you racist'

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“Slavery later on in the American South was not about the color of the skin of the slaves but their value as workers on the plantations,” Horn told the newspaper. "The U.S. had abolitionists since the start, people who felt slavery wasn’t moral but they weren’t enslaving black people because they were black. They were bringing in these folks because they were available.”

Republican state Rep. Werner Horn stirred controversy when he claimed that American slavery was based on economics rather than racism. In a now-deleted Facebook post, Horn responded to a question about whether owning slaves made someone racist. His answer? “Wait, owning slaves doesn’t make you racist.”

He went on to assert that slavery wasn’t about race but rather an economic decision. According to Horn, slave owners weren’t enslaving black people because of their race; they were simply exploiting available labor12. While this perspective has drawn criticism, it’s essential to recognize that the historical context of slavery is complex and multifaceted.

Slavery in the United States involved both economic interests and deeply entrenched racial biases. The legacy of slavery continues to impact society today, with disparities in incarceration rates and educational outcomes disproportionately affecting Black Americans13.