That is SO GREAT! And Shaw seems to come prepared with that idea already – it's not something that Ben suggests to him. I do like that even though he never says a word about it, there are little hints here and there that Shaw really disapproves of the whole institution of slavery.

(Okay, but also: the part of the boat where Ben can't say Hannibal's name because he's grieving too hard? AHH BABIES.)