What was life really like for slaves in America before the Civil War brought them freedom?

We are taught to think that black people in America had a terrible deal as slaves in the Confederacy. What did the slaves themselves think about their lives at that time? “...People have the wrong idea of the slave days. We were treated good...” -Simon Philips, Former Slave (Alabama Narratives, Volume 1, Page 313 “…I remember the days of slavery as happy ones…” -Adeline, Former Slave (Arkansas Narratives, Volume 2, Part 1, Page 14) “…Them was good old days. Us would be lucky to have ‘em back again…” -Jasper Battle, Former Slave (Georgia Narratives, Volume 1, Page 71) “…Our masters were awful good to us. They didn’t treat us like we were slaves…” -Julia Haney, Former Slave (Arkansas Narratives, Volume 2, Part 3, Page 149) “…He was sure good to his slaves. He treated them as human beings…” -Laura Ramsey Parker, Former Slave (Tennessee Narrative