The Rationalization for the sexual exploitation of slaves from the conventional wisdom of southern whites that black women were naturally promiscuous and sought to copulate with white men.
Therefore, masters and overseers often approached female slaves expecting sexual favors.
When such favors were not forthcoming and these men encountered opposition to their requests, many resorted to outright force to achieve their purpose.
Sometimes the threat of violence was enough to resolve the matter.
As one slave explained to Fanny Kemble, the English actress who married a well to do Georgian planter, "We do anything to get our poor flesh some rest from de whip; when he made me follow him into de bush, what use me to tell him no? he have strength to make me".
(597)
