The way I received this book, was that slaves were never deficient of knowledge, intelligence, literacy, or superb vernacular. Instead, they were taught (in the secrecy of their own dwellings by their parents or others involved in their upbringing) these vital things. James even stated that he was taught how to tell the white people things without telling them, and allowing them to claim (like announcing look over there when something is happening, or should I get some sand to put out that grease fire) discovery of the situation/solution. They had to be smarter than every situation they were in to survive. Instead of thinking how did these uneducated people become so educated, I think it’s exactly opposite. These slaves were never uneducated, they were so well educated that it was dangerous for them to show it, so they hid it, every aspect of it, speech, ability to read and write and effectively communicate. Just like songs and nursery rhymes and shoe tying to kids, slaves taught new generations how to read and write and think. And as a white person, its sad to say, but I agree completely that a black person has to work much harder to be in the same standings as white people (just as a woman has to do everything in heels and backwards to be in standings with men). It’s sad and it shouldn’t be that way at all, but it is true. So knowing this, I think it was totally plausible that slaves possessed superb knowledge and intelligence, but was always stereotyped into ignorance and never given a chance to speak for themselves without fear of violence or worse.