I do not know where you got your information from but the first slaves in the United States were white people. They were called indentured servants. At one time 45% of Virginia's population was these servants. From my readings they went to black people because of there color. When and indentured servant ran away they would blend in with the crowd but if a black person rean away they stood out because of there color. As to renting a slave that was common practice. In the South.
