Most Americans have heard about slavery and the cruel slave masters. However, some slave owners were not only kind but helpful to their slaves. Frederick Douglass was taught to read by his master's wife.

In North Carolina, we have a number of freedmen who learned valuable skills while they were slaves. One freedman was the wealthiest man in Craven County, North Carolina, in 1824 and owned more slaves than anyone in the nation at the same time. He started by buying his own family and freeing them and then helped others and also used other slaves. There are mixed opinions about him in town, but his former owner is viewed very favorably with a memorial in a local church to her. His children were respected as he was by most of the community. Like Douglass, Barack Obama, and Tiger Woods, he was a mulatto.

The freedmen were in all social classes but one family due to its wealth is better documented than others. The freedmen and slaves in NC are responsible for most of the building and other work.