Do you Think The Blacks should be PAID for what happened to their Ancestors?

Question

If you do not agree speak to your Congressmen, and Legislators.

Answer 1

I would love to be PAID for what happened to my great-great-great-great grandparents and beyond. Who wouldn’t want to receive some kind of compensation for hundreds of years of free labor? They are not around to receive it so give it to the descendants.

I say that half joking. What I really would like is something that I can not have: to know where my ancestors came from; to know which place in Africa they derived; to know what their culture and language was; to know the stories that were lost in transit from continent to continent. Living in America, I can have anything I want but that which was lost. That for me would be compensation enough.

Answer 2

This is a question that has validity for those who only have a parochial view of history (and perhaps politicians with an agenda for short-term gain in popularity). There have been many races that have been persecuted throughout history, and while these crimes rightfully disgust and horrify most of humanity, it diminishes the perception of outrage when any price tag is assigned to these kinds of issues. No one in their right mind can condone what happened to countless blacks in this country during this period, but how does one go about assigning a price tag of guilt to the black tribal leaders, war lords, chiefs who were complicit in (and profitted greatly from) sending these impoverished people to the Americas in the first place? Who are the ancestors of these people? Should they be tracked down and included in this lawsuit?
Who wouldn't think it absurd to go after the entire British Monarchy for the almost successful extirpation of the Irish under Elizabeth I?

Answer 3

If there's still a former American slave out there somewhere (who'd have to be at least 150 years old by now), I'd say yeah, we owe him some money. But other than that, no. The sins of the father can not be vested on the son, or however that goes. To those who want to address fixing the wrongs of slavery, your attention would be better spent addressing the areas of the world where slavery STILL exists. But there's no money in that, is there?

Answer 4

Depends on what you mean by PAID...if you're asking whether "Blacks" should be given affirmative action, I say yes, as everyone should, but what do you mean by PAID...that just doesn't make any sense! But, then you have a lot of ignorant people out here, that forget that "Blacks" didn't come to the U.S. on their freewill either, stating that "Blacks" didn't do anything to help the U.S., to those who think such things, I advise them to take a Diversity course and learn some history other than their own, then come back and answer this question!

Answer 5

In all honesty, no. I didn't own slaves. And no one alive right now was ever a slave. So why should I pay for what my ancestors never did to someone else's ancestors?

My heritage is Italian and Irish. My ancestors didn't even come to the US until the early 1900's.

Now, if someone wanted to claim they deserved payment for what the Romans did to their ancestors, then I might be able to see their point. Then again, the Romans weren't very nice to the Irish either so I'd be paying myself.

Answer 6

i agree with fr_chuck.Nobody can be held responsible for what their ancestors did.I am originally from Germany and I have to say that it really bothers me that Germany is still to this day compensating the Jewish community.Don't get me wrong,I am not trying to downplay the horror the Jews had to go through.I most certainly think that all the horrors that happened to Jews,blacks etc.have to be taught in history classes in schools around the world to prevent any kind of repetition.
My opinion is that this will serve a far better solution than any kind of monetary compensation.

Answer 7

I'm all for payday. What did they do that they did not get paid for?

Do you think I should be paid because my ancestors that came to America in 1625 as indentured servants.

Sure they came from Germany but they were still slaves.

If so send me some $$$

Answer 8

Hell no. What happened to their ancestors is just that, not what happened to them. If we're going to give payments to races of people for what happened to their descendants, then african americans should get in line...right behind Native Americans, and hope that there's some reparations left, seeing as this WAS their country.

Answer 9

Only an idiot would give them more welfare and other freebies than have already been given to them and are still being given to them as we speak. That's a very good question, and a very good recommendation. My congressmen and Senators know me well. God Bless you.

Answer 10

No.
The fact is, many whites were held in slavery by black, who had them working sugar plantations in Janica and other islands.
Nearly all races have been held in servitude at some point throughout history.
We need to stop the pandering to one race over another in this country. The pandering only leads to resentment and racism.