Should Africa be compensated by the developed world for loss of "resources" incurred during the slave trade?

Answer 1

No

The African tribal leader of the time sold their people into slavery and were compensated then.

Answer 2

If we start compensating people for the past we will go on for ever: we should look to treat people equally for the future. Also, looking backwards makes people bitter and spiteful, which is never helpful.

Africa in general should receive much greater resources in the interests of economic equality and its needs to address social problems (not least AIDS) and industrial investment. Means are needed to ensure that such investment goes to ordinary people, not political elites within countries. I don't see why those countries (for instance in West Africa) that suffered particularly from the slave trade should be favoured compared to those elsewhere in the continent that were exploited by different means (such as mineral extraction).

Incidentally, the slave trade between Africa and America was made possible because there had previously been extensive trading of slaves within the African contintent. To be consistent, anybody arguing that the developed world should compensate Africa for the slave trade should argue for compensation between states within Africa (for instance those North and South of the Sahara), and indeed compensation between different tribes. Which leads to the sort of fighting and strife which has caused misery in Africa in recent years..

Answer 3

Isn't the loss of resources you refer to actually the slaves themselves. As the slaves were sold to the slave traders, a transaction, albeit a terrible one, ocurred at that point. I suppose you could argue that in fact the descendents of the slaves should be compensated for the trauma and suffering inflicted on their ancestors.
However, I don't really think this is a solution. At some point you have to acknowledge the mistakes of the past and move on. I think the issue is bigger than problems caused by slavery or the empire building of the 'Western world' - we have a burden of care to alleviate suffering, to help educate people and bring healthcare up to reasonable standards around the world. I don't think this is related to slavery, I think this is because some countries are more technologically/educationally more advanced than others and the fruits of this knowledge, gained to a certain extent due to the exploitation of some of these countries in the past, need to be shared.

Answer 4

"Civilized" is a loaded note to apply at the same time as conversing about the complexity of a society or a custom. the quick answer on your first question is "definite;" the societies in Egypt, Kush/Nubia, North African coast (mutually with Carthage, which replaced into began as a Phoenician colony) and Jenne-Jeno alongside the Niger River were really state-of-the-artwork. The medieval societies in Ghana, Mali, tremendous Zimbabwe and the Swahili coast were also state-of-the-artwork and were in close contact with the Eurasian "civilizations" of the time. Your first question makes some wide assumptions, although. First, what we may be able to call "slavery" replaced into merely about continually a function of those, and different, historic societies. 2d, it signifies that the Transatlantic slave commerce that depopulated Africa to furnish slave markets contained in the Americas and in eu and Asian kingdoms replaced into someway a "civilizing" effect, which the historic record shows isn't the case. Your 2d question is way less puzzling. Egypt, 'nuff suggested. some solid sources: John Reader, _Africa: A Biography of the Continent_. This e book is thick and can want to be intimidating yet is nicely well worth the time spent analyzing it. Thomas Pakenham's _The Scramble For Africa_ is yet another thick e book yet a superb demonstration about merely how UNcivilized the 'civilized' Western Europeans were to Africans contained in the previous due 1800s and early twentieth century. Henry Louis Gates documentary sequence on the "Wonders of the African international" is arguable, even if it provides an American perspective on present day African international locations and their historic legacy. Time-existence video's "lost Civilizations" sequence has an episode on African cultures and what number Western Europeans and others have tried to suppress or, frankly, lie about Africans' histories.

Answer 5

something everyone seems to ignore is that african slaves were sold by africans to europeans. So really the Africans sold their "resources" - i dont think they get compensated.

Or if they want they can have the africans in my country who dont seem to feel the need to work back. Rather that than sitting on the welfare.

Oh before anyone moans at me - the slave trade was a terrible thing - no man should be a slave to another. Just pointing out that it was Africans who sold slaves.

Answer 6

Sure - And we can pay reparations to India for the losses suffered through occupation, the United States for losses incurred during the war of independance, Jeruselem for the crusades.......There has to be a point people stop living in the past and look to the future.

Then again, we could get a decent pay out from France for the Norman invasion, Denmark for years of Viking raids and Italy for the Roman occupation!!!

Answer 7

They have been compensated by the billions poored into Africa by the developed world already. If they feel they would like more, ask the curropt governments in Africa to give it to them.

Answer 8

Then 2/3 of the world which belonged to the British empire would be asking the same!
The question is, how much the developed countries are and should be doing NOW to help the developing and poorer countries?
As far as I know they are not doing much.

Answer 9

No, but all 1st world countries should practise more fair trade and allow poorer countries access to their markets.

Also in reference to an earlier answer, I don't believe that there were more white slaves than black in the US or Caribbean. Also if you are considering indentured servants "slaves" you shouldn't. They are different. In the US and the Caribbean the laws governing indentured servants were much different than the laws governing slaves.

Answer 10

Africans have been compensated enough now its time they woke up and took things in their stride. You ask for compensation and sell off yourself and the country to those developed ones. Todays day you have to compete with the best evolve and thus thrive.

Answer 11

No, they would still have no water and a hell of a lot more people. In the words of the late Great Sam Kennison his advice for Africa durring the 80's Etheopian crisis "MOVE TO THE FOOD"