Why do many blacks hold white people of today responsible for slavery?

Question

Does Rob, whose black and born in 1985, have any right to be angry with or judge Mike, who is white and born the same year? Even if Mike's great, great grandfather was a slave owner, persecuting Mike is a form of racism, isn't it?

Answer 1

The whole concept of holding people today responsible for slavery is totally bogus and without merit. In your example Rob has no standing at all to bring any complaint against Mike, period. This is so totally irrelevant it's unbelievable. First of all, how can you logically hold someone responsible for events that occurred 100 years before they were born? If you are going solely by the color of Mike's skin then yes it is racism. The stupidness of this is underscored by the fact that slavery is still rampant in Africa, where both slaves and slave owners are black. So by all rights blacks should be holding blacks responsible for slavery, it would be more representative of the truth. The other problem with this whole concept is that there is such a thing as a statute of limitations. When Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation and symbolically freed the slaves, there began a new era in the rights of slaves. At the time the slaves became legally free was the time for complaints to be filed, and not 150 years later, when all the parties were long since dead. This issue is a lawyer wannabe: let's take one group of people who were not involved in any way and have them sue another group of people who likewise were not involved in any way. it all just makes no sense at all.

This idea of reparations for slavery is totally without any merit.

Answer 2

I think part of the problem comes from the fact that whites go on their daily lives pretending that slavery never existed. While Mike really does not owe anyone an apology or an explanation, Rob expects some sort of compassion from his white counterpart. He expects Mike to say something to the effect of, "Wow, its terrible how my great grandfather owned slaves" or " I feel pretty bad about what happened."

Being angry with Mike, regardless of how stupid, is not a form of persecution or racism. It's just being angry over something that does not affect Rob or Mike in the present day.

Answer 3

Persecuting Mike isn't a for of racism, it is being mad at someone indirectly related to what you are mad about. Now, if Mike is celebrating the fact that his grandfather was a slave owner or defending slave owners, sure, Rob can get mad at him. Even something like waiving the confederate flag is a slap in the face to black Americans.

Blacks are in the position they are partially because of slavery. While whites were starting businesses and getting loans for farms in the early - mid-1900s blacks weren't able to do that. Even if they were 10 times more knowledgeable about the farming industry, no bank would give them a loan to get equipment. They were not allowed to go to school to get an education. So while other's ancestors was creating a way of life and actually having money in the bank, blacks just couldn't do this. Well, it is a well known fact that a person is likely to surpass their parent's education levels so while your parents were going to high school and possibly college, mine were getting to middle school possibly high school. This doesn't include the fact that most hiring positions are filled with whites and the fact that many through the 60's and 70's and even 80's refused to hire blacks. This forced many blacks into crime as they had to feed their families just like the whites did. So now most of us have at least 1 relative in prison their complete life. And we're still more likely to go to jail than college.

So can he be upset with slavery??? sure. Should he be upset with Mike???? no. But the KKK still has rallies, still hates us, and still wants us all to die. The police officers in several cities profile based on race and they admit it. They can be caught on tape beating a defenseless black man and get paid leave, that's the same as vacation. Then they always get off.

Answer 4

I think slavery is abhorant and it is something that should not be forgotten but we should also remember that every race in the world has been slaves to another race - the Romans and Ottaman empire took slaves from the lands they invaded for example so should I blame all Romans? Slavery in Africa could not have happened if many black people did not sell others from their and other communities into slavery - there were many Africans and many from the Caribean who were just, if not more guilty as the white man. It is also some of the African and Middle Eastern countries that still have slavery. Maybe rather than blaming future generations for things they could not possibly do anything about, they should look at doing something about the slavery that still continues.

Answer 5

That is a stupid notion that white folks have. We don't hold you responsble for slavery. We are angry cause your attitudes haven't changed much since then. The problem is that even though slavery is gone, it laid the roots for the attitudes that white people have about black people now. There is still the "entitled" attitude that many white people have and many still consider black people to be beneath them and less than they are and that causes hard feelings.

Also the very fact that white people deny that racism even exists when it does upsets black folks greatly. The playing field isn't even and I don't know if it ever will be.

Mike's life will be easier than Rob's just because he is white. Rob will have to worry when he walks down the street that a pissy cop will stop him and arrest him for nothing. He will have to worry about DWB (driving while black) and if he lives in the hood, he has to worry about what everybody thinks about that.

White people start being afraid of black boys when they are about 9 years old. They start to think they are thugs and they get labeled in school and sometimes fail to succeed cause of it. White people think they are going to rob them and clutch their purses close when they see them on the street. They lock their car doors and get nervous when they see them on the elevator. Black people get blamed for crimes they didn't commit (e.g. Susan Smith) and more black men go to prison and get executed than white ones. It's enough to piss a brutha off.

Life is very hard for a black man in this world. Rob knows that no matter what, Mike is going to have a lot easier life than he is and that is probably what bothers him. It would be great if Mike and Rob could have a long conversation about race, but most white folks don't want to do that or they get so defensive that nothing gets solved.

Answer 6

Most blacks hold white people responsible for slavery even though before the white people brought the African slaves to America. Most of them were prisoners of war from other tribes in Africa who were then sold to the Europeans.

Personally, there's nothing I or any other black person can do in the past but try to do their best in the future as well as white and other minority to better understand our culture as well as blacks understanding their culture.

Now changing to a different subject you can also remotely blame the whites who took over the Native Americans lands by force for the exploration of the Western part of the young United States. Remember, the people who were in charged in the United States during the 18th century were whites.

Answer 7

Even though slavery has been over for such a long time the most obvious mistreatment of blacks such as not being served in some establishments,different restrooms,the back of the bus thing were common as I was a child and I'm only 49. Although I am white even as a child it troubled me to see this in the early sixties . I know as an innocent kid in my school we didn't harbor those feelings .But as we grew up we were exposed to stereotypes that adults harbored. I can't speak for blacks but do see positive changes in many areas. Now I would say things are becoming more in balence and racism is leveling off to some degree .We have to let go of the past in order to move forward, That advice would be relevent to both the white and the black youth of today. Drop the stereotypes and think individual equals . Many blacks as well as whites have done this with much success in their lives. It's time to think positives and not use racism as an excuse for failure for one only need look around and find many successful minorities . They are the wise ones who set an example for all of us.All others aside in todays world one has the power of self and harboring old stereotypes has never solved a problem for anyone of any race in my opinion.When Martin Luther King spoke the words we shall overcome, the young people of today have that option now. We still have a way to go but in spite of that I urge young people to overcome and don't become a statistic of the past. Create your own opportunities and be self reliant and in control of your actions. Don't give in and be dragged down by the past .

Answer 8

Damn, does anyone even realize that there are other races that were held as slaves too?? Like the Chinese?? I don't see Chinese ppl still holding a grudge to white ppl for holding them as slaves.

Anyway, white people are being racist against also... not ALL white people are scared of black people... not ALL white ppl are indifferent to slavery in the past... Unfortunately, the KKK does still exist, but they definitely do not represent the views of every white person. I'm sure there are racist groups against white people as well.

I don't agree that white people should be held accountable for the slavery that occurred in the past. Certain charities and other forms of gonverment are specifically dedicated to and cater to those who had ancestors in slavery. Unfortunately we can't change the views of every person, but those people giving into stereotypes -both black and white- aren't making things easier for anyone.

Answer 9

Maxiekatz and tman are right in their different ways, I think there is still some form of modern day slavery, in which Africans and 3rd world countries are roped in unending debt by the white superpowers, making life hell for the blacks in their countries, they, of their own volition now flock to Europe and America, etc to do the menial jobs that their white counterparts would not touch. Its all just a new form of slavery.

Answer 10

No way! Its stupid to act like that and if this "rob" guy is religious in anyways what so ever then he would know that the bible says in Duet 24:16 that No child should be punished for the sins of thier father...I guess it depends on which way you look at it...if Rob wants to blame anyone then he should blame the tribes of africa that sold thier enemies into slavery because thats how we got most of the slaves we brought over..they were sold to us by waring tribes.