I mean, financially it wasn’t really a choice. Cotton wasn’t profitable without slavery. Inherit a cotton farm from your racist parents and capitalism would ensure the racism kept flowing.

That’s why we had to force the issue in the first place, the south needed the institution of slavery, and wasn’t just fighting to defend slavery because they thought it was neat, it was because they needed it.

No excuses, but when immoral behavior is profitable behavior, yes, people can get dependent.