Forbes has a nice article about Caitlin Rosenthal's work on the business practices of slave-owners. Cribbing a little from the conclusion of the article:
Rosenthal is aware that what started out as a straightforward history of business practices could become highly controversial, with some misconstruing her research as a kind of justification of slavery. Instead, she wants her research to inform managers and companies to become more aware of the complicated legacy of today’s business practices and the origins of some their day-to-day management practices.
“I got into this because I followed my sources,” Rosenthal says. “I didn’t mean to walk into this minefield.”
I don't think anyone should think she's justifying slavery. Though this does remind me of the discussion we had here a while back on whether slaves were "paid" for work. And I was happy to see that in addition to mentioning her book in progress, “From Slavery to Scientific Management: Capitalism and Control in America, 1754-1911,” that there will be a chapter in Sven Beckert and Seth Rockman's edited collection, Slavery’s Capitalism.
H/t Eric Fink.
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