Some time ago conservative pundit and author Pat Buchanan was roundly and correctly criticized for saying that black Americans who are descendants of slaves, should be thankful that their ancestors were sold into a life of bondage, torture and oppression.

Buchanan's belief presumes that the only way that blacks would have found a way to America would have been on a slave ship and that the slave thing was a net benefit to many of us.

Apparently, Souljah Boy believes the same thing. According to Toure via 'The Daily Beast' website:

Then came Soulja Boy Tell Em. I asked him, "What historical figure do you most hate?" He was stumped. I said, "Others have said Hitler, bin Laden, the slave masters ..." He said, "Oh wait! Hold up! Shout out to the slave masters! Without them we'd still be in Africa."

My jaw, at this point, was on the ground."We wouldn't be here," he continued, having no idea how far in it he'd stepped, "to get this ice and tattoos."

Ice and tattoos.

What to say?

I am wondering if that is the most ignorant comment I've ever heard. Maybe not it ... but close.

Seriously, I'm betting that some agree with Souljah Boy's assessment of slavery's impact on the black community. I, on the other hand, always consider what Africa might have looked like if millions of our ancestors had not been dragged from the continent.

My friend Tyler is a little more blunt about it.