I'm sorry, I didn't read the book, but I will - you've sparked my interest.

But how does anyone figure that slavery is legal? The text of the 13th Amendment is as follows:

Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist withhin the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction. Congress shall have the power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

Are you refering to the conviction of a crime exception? That doesn't legalize private ownership of individuals.

I can understand this as a metaphor, or as a political statement about the effect of the justice system, but not as a statement of bare legal fact.

Help me out here.

Peace.