A few years after the American Civil War, while working in Tennessee, a former Union soldier finds an oil lamp buried in the mud. As he’s polishing it up, he is shocked when smoke starts to billow out and a genie appears before him.

“I am the Genie of the South! I will grant you three wishes!” the genie declares.

After thinking for a moment, and with a look of skepticism, the Union soldier says “I want to be a wealthy man.” The genie nods and POOF! They’re transported to a mansion with rooms filled with gold.

The former soldier, in shock but obviously convinced, makes his second wish. “I wish to be surrounded by beautiful women who love me!” The genie nods again and POOF! The soldier finds himself laying on a lavish bed, and into the room walks a litany of gorgeous women of different varieties, who begin providing for his every need and desire.

“My word!” exclaims the Union soldier.

“And your final wish?” asks the genie.

The northerner thinks long and hard. Finally he sheepishly gets up from the bed, walks over to the genie, and whispers in his ear. The genie slowly nods his head and POOF! …nothing changes…

Suddenly, 5 men in white garments and hoods break into the room, grab the man, drag him outside, and hoist him into the air by his neck with rope from a tree.

The man, of course, soon dies, at which point the white-clothed men remove their hoods to reveal it is five copies of the genie.

One of them, a bit confused, turns to the rest and says: “You know, I understand the money and the women…but who would want to be hung like a black man???”