How much restitution should be paid to the African American descendants of slaves?

Question

Although no amount is enough to change history, is any amount enough to even begin to make up for slavery?

If you believe that no amount at all should be paid, please feel free to explain why not.

Answer 1

Although I'm not a black man and thus I suppose my opinion can't count here. I don't believe that the people of today are responsible for the sins of their fathers.

If anything, perhaps the KKK should be made to pay restitutions.

Answer 2

None should be paid. I for one didn't even have relatives in the US when Slavery was legal. And looking at it from the perspective that many slaves were sold to ship captains (to be resold) by Rival Tribesmen - wouldn't they be just as responsible to pay restitutions? How about the fact that slavery within Africa hasn't been wiped out?

How far back do you want to go? the Slavs were so 'enslaved' that the very word Slave came from a derivative of their region. Every nationality on the planet has ancestors that were enslaved - everyone else has gotten over it except African Americans.

(and the easiest rebuttal to point out: Welfare)

Answer 3

No. If anybody deserves any money it would be the native Americans because this was their land and it was stolen from them. You don' hear them whining and complaining about reparations. Look at all of the people that are driving brand new Cadillacs and collecting welfare checks. If reparations should be paid Africa should pay them because they were the ones that sold them to our country. If you do more research you will find out that African Americans weren't the only ones who were slaves. There were also many white slaves. It was a thing of the past and the people of the present shouldn't have to pay for others mistakes. I think that too many people are looking for a handout. Look at all the extra rights they already have. examples BET what what do you think would happen if we had an all white entertainment network. Look at the NAACP and the united ***** college fund. What would be said if there was a united Caucasian college fund. It wouldn't be "politically correct" and we would be considered racist.I think that if everyone wants to be considered equal all of these things need to be abolished because all it does is create hostility amongst the races. The reparations are just another way to get unearned money and I think that it is ridiculous that any group of people could stoop so low.

Answer 4

If you want to talk about this in a legal way, the thing is that there is a statute of limitaitons (bringing up things after a limit of time has passed) Who should be responsible for paying?

If the government pays technically we are paying. The problem I have with this is that in doing my Geneology research, my family came over from Scotland in the 60s. We had nothing to do with the slavery in this country. Why should I have to pay for something my family didn't do?

If you research slavery you will see it's not that the White man just went to Africa and stole people... their OWN PEOPLE sold them!!! I am not saying this is a nice thing, this slavery is a terrible horrible thing. Terrible horrible things happen to many people, what about the English who stole land in Scotland and took slaves and also raped their women? Damn what aobut the American Indians and how much they were screwed! What about the holocaust? What about the other cultures who have been pitted in the darkness? Surely their families deserve something?

There is no amount to make up for what has happened in the past, to anyone! We are all Americans now... and only we can make sure the future is better for all of us.

Answer 5

I did not own any slaves nor did anyone still living today. And any black that is still living never had to be a slave. So why would money even need to be given? It's not my fault their ancestors were slaves. Did you know back in the days of Moses the Egyptians enslaved the Jews. Should Egyptians give Jewish people money too? And political correctness is retarded. Just because someone's ancestors came from Africa doesn't mean anything, they were born in America and they are American citizens. My ancestors came from Europe so should I be called European American?? Anyway, if everyone is so worried about ending racism and having equal rights for everyone why would you call yourself something that sets you apart from the majority?
Racial diversity in itself is racist because it's letting someone in, college, for instance, based on their color. Why not look past color and judge someone based on their abilities and characteristics?

Answer 6

$0, if only because of the unfairness of paying mixed people 1/2 or 1/4 or whatever of the full amount. And how to recompense the millions who "passed" into White society? What about the Blacks who immigrated to the US from the Caribbean or Africa since 1865? And then there are the descendants of the few White or Indian slaves. Do we recompense them?

Answer 7

I don't believe any amount should be paid. It just opens a door that will not be easily closed. For one there is no firm way to prove a descendant of slaves, as very few records was kept. Plus, you would have to pay Jewish descendants of Holocaust victims, Muslim (among others) descendant for the Crusades, you see where I am going with this.

Answer 8

resitiution is a nice idea. personally i feel that giving money to descendants who most likely dont know anythng about their ancestors cannot and in no way will help ease their "pain" or justify what was done. Furthermore, restitution would have to be given to the entire jewish population, not to mention the countless other number of races "even white" who have been enslaved at one time or another in history.



"Maybe they should be thankful that by a strange twist of fate they ended up here with a better, comfortable life than where their ancestors came from full of disease, famine, and corruption"

^^nice valid point.

Answer 9

No it should not be paid. This is going to be taken a racist statement but please think about what I am saying objectively.

The last thing the black culture needs is another reason to not work and sit at home. I know how bad that sounds but I have seen many black people who collect massive government handouts for getting pregnant underage. If you are underage and you have a kid the government will assist you regardless of age however it seems that numerous minority women have kids as an attempt to make more money so the do not have to contribute to society.

How many young black kids work to go to school as compared to black people who get some form of welfare. I go to a Jr. college in very diverse community. My High School graduating class was nearly 50/50 black and white. Once I went to college that number dropped to at least 75/25 white to black. The last thing Black culture in the US needs is an excuse not to better themselves.

Attack my opinions if you want, but I am not a racist person I am able to look at an argument objectively.

Answer 10

None. Slavery was wrong, no question about it. However no one alive today (in the US) was ever a slave. No one alive today has owned slaves (again in the US). Restitution is something that is paid by someone that has done wrong to the person or persons they have wrong. All the parties are dead.

Answer 11

Big fat goose egg. Every group has been persecuted in one way or another if you want to go far enough back, so why should slave descendants be the ones at the center of the issue.

Maybe they should be thankful that by a strange twist of fate they ended up here with a better, comfortable life than where their ancestors came from full of disease, famine, and corruption.