Noah's Son's Sin Justifies Slavery?

There was a side comment in last week's Torah study class that made me curious.

After the flood...
Genesis 9:20 - 25
Ham 'sees his father's nakedness' and tells his brothers. Then Noah curses Ham's son Canaan to become a 'slave to his brother'.

Out of this come the Canaanites whose political associations and future in the land is equated with things 'bad' in all ways.

I found interesting links that discuss this as the justification for slavery in the American South:

Straight Dope Offers Historical Perspective

Article by Felicia R. Lee on Noah's Curse is Slavery

Wikipedia - a good summary of the issues

books on the subject:

Noah's Curse: The Biblical Justification of American Slavery by: Stephen R. Haynes

The Curse of Ham : Race and Slavery in Early Judaism, Christianity, and Islam (Jews, Christians, and Muslims from the Ancient to the Modern World) by: David M. Goldenberg


Not sure I like this one... but have to report those details that catch my attention.