In a recent episode of the 3RDIHIGH podcast, host J.F. Bey delved into Leonard L. Roberts' book Who Freed the Slaves: The Fight Over the 13th Amendment. The conversation centered around the reconstruction bill introduced by James Ashley in December 1863, which aimed to take away the right to vote and hold office from those who fought against the Union and give the right to vote to all black males. However, the aristocratic elite who ran the institution of slavery would be rendered powerless if this bill were to pass, which is why it was not passed. The host discussed how the original 13th Amendment had 20 sections that targeted the aristocratic elite who benefited from slavery and would keep their wealth even after slavery ended. The conversation also touched on how the drug wars and administrations after administrations were used to keep slavery going through the creation of public housing projects and the targeting of an entire population. The speakers argued that the drug wars and the creation of public housing projects were designed to continue enslaving black people through voluntary servitude. They emphasized the need for reparations on a global scale and urged people to educate themselves on the true history of slavery and its ongoing effects. The conversation then shifted to the proposed constitutional amendment that outlawed slavery and the intent behind it. The final wording of the 13th Amendment only outlawed slavery and ignored calls for racial justice. The conversation also highlighted how fraudulent contracts such as sharecropping perpetuated slavery and perpetuated racial inequality. The speakers discussed the continuation of slavery through the prison system and the need for reparations globally. The conversation also touched on the fact that the American Civil War was not fought solely to end slavery but also to preserve the Union and protect the interests of the wealthy elite.