Colonial slavery defenders justified the trade as beneficial to Africans.

Evidence

It “troubled” Woolman “to perceive the darkness of their imagination.” He never faltered in shooting back, in his calm, compassionate way. No one is inferior in God’s eyes, he stressed. They had not imported Africans for their own good, as demonstrated by their constant abuse, overwork, starvation, and scarce clothing. — Ibram X. Kendi, Stamped from the Beginning, 223