should African American's be paid reparation's for slavery and how much ???

Answer 1

I believe that the only African American's that should be paid for what has happened to them in the past are the ones that were actual slaves. If you weren't an actual slave, move on!

Answer 2

First, there is not a single former slave alive today. If there were they would certainly be due just compensation for their labor, but the ancestors of atrocities do not deserve compensation in any way. As a precedent for this point of view, from the last century, let us look at how the compensation of slave labor during the holocaust of World War II has been handled. The thousands of people that survived that inequity are being compensated by both the government of Germany and by the companies that gained from their forced labor, and rightfully so. But their children have no inherited right to collect for the uncompensated labor of their parents. Certainly the grandchildren and great grandchildren of American slaves never experienced the appalling life of slavery, and therefore, like the children of Jews and others enslaved in Germany 50 years ago, they have no claim for themselves.

Secondly, blacks do not have a monopoly on living in poverty in this country. According to the latest census data approximately 30 percent of blacks and whites live in poverty. Hispanics unfortunately have an even higher percentage living below the poverty line. All this current day poverty can not be attributed to a disgusting institution that was ended 150 years ago. It can however be attributed to present day governmental policy. There should be a monumental effort made by the government, at all levels, to get all Americans out of poverty, but a policy centered on only one race is just as wrong as slavery was.

Thirdly, slavery could not have existed without the complicity of black Africans who supplied most of the unfortunate humans that were sold into this dreadful condition. It was not just whites that kept this retched institution going for over 200 years. In addition, there were over 200,000 white Americans that paid the ultimate retribution during the Civil War, when they gave their lives to end slavery. The reparation debt owed to slaves was paid a long time ago when the North won the Civil War and freed them.

Answer 3

No.

Here's why. Before the Declaration of Independence, an African Slave could work his indenture off, just like Irish indentured slaves of that time. When the slave had worked enough hours equaled to the amount paid to own him/her, the former owner would give them a bit of money and some land to start their own farm/plantation. And, these ex-African slaves would buy African slaves to run their farms/plantations.

This setup changed when the U.S. became a Nation in its own right. Because the U.S. was trying to discourage Asians migrating to the U.S., the Forefathers (mostly the ones you don't hear about, and mostly Southern land owners) created Race Profiling. If someone is from China, they wouldn't be admitted to the country due to Social Class. They were beneath the European Social Class. If they had to discriminate due to one's skin and origin, then this allowed them to keep African Slaves from gaining their freedom after the initial fees were paid in full.

Remember, most of the Northern Forefathers, Jefferson and others wanted to do away with slavery... but they were outvoted by the Southern landowners. Northern landowners didn't own slaves because it was not as profitable in the North as it was in the South.

So, if African American should be paid reparation, then it should only come from the Families that tried to keep Slavery intact. Not the U.S., which tried to abolish slavery several times since the 1780's.

Answer 4

Of course!!! If Jews can get all the funding they want from the Holocaust, which happened ages ago as well, then why can't African Americans? You don't hear a lot of caucasians saying, "Aw...get over it already!" or "Uh...no!" when talks of the holocaust comes up...why? Because, nine times out of ten, they have a Jewish background...so do you see my reasoning! Of course, any nationality that isn't of African descent would say these things, as they don't have grandparents who witnessed slavery and as a result have a fear of "White" people, and of course they would say such things as they don't get looked down upon or get stereotyped, better yet get pulled over for "D.W.B" ...this is proof in the pudding that African Americans don't mean nothing in the U.S. and that's why African Americans do the things we do, because we know how others think of us. This why African Americans won't be paid reparations...and the only reason why we have the option to get welfare is so the government can control us...to keep us in poverty by making sure that the husbands are not living with the wives... when you get rid of the head of the house, then you can control the rest of the body of the house! It's a shame! Oh, and by the way, African Americans aren't the only one's who get on welfare! There's a more settled and professional way of insulting someone, if people are going to do so, do it right for crying out loud!!!

To SlowThinker: You stated, "I do not classify myself as African American. I am not from Africa! I do not know the culture or the language. We cannot trace our history.
Keep in mind a select group of our ancestors, have encountered a mass genocide and those who survived from overseas were enslaved."

Now, you need to make up your mind, one minute your denying your African heritage, then the next you state "OUR ancestors"!!! Look, you're African AMERICAN, you have African blood flowing through your veins, but you just so happen to be born in AMERICA... if you're not African American then what are you? Brown? There's so many people out here who denounce their race due to insecurities...better yet, these same people have been brain washed... don't be ashamed to say you're African American, right now you have some caucasians trying to be "black", just because our society does not recognize African Americans as being civilized, doesn't mean that you should get scared and denounce your heritage! As a suggestion, you need to start loving the skin you're in, because if you don't, then who will?

Answer 5

I do not classify myself as African American. I am not from Africa! I do not know the culture or the language. We cannot trace our history.
Keep in mind a select group of our ancestors, have encountered a mass genocide and those who survived from overseas were enslaved. The other group are the Native Indigenous, who also encountered a mass genocidal attack. Lastly, the europeans who, with their destructive behavior, brutally sexually assaulted the females.
Therefore, we are not Africans. WE ARE AMERICANIZED. STILL TO THIS DAY, WE ARE NOT ACCEPTED!
Under the current representation, we would be hoodwinked.
Reparation must done under a separate government. Unfortunately, a select group of folks priorities are way off. Leadership is not a popularity contest of he's fine, his rap is right (though it's B.S.). The Depression Era folks kept quiet on what occurred during there time. This setback has affected the Baby Boomers, to the extent there kids (some are now adults) are watered down pacifiers or just outright ignorant.
Common ground must be met, through a mass unification and I am not speaking in reference to going to church (which is european religion.).

Answer 6

It's highly doubtful that any African American alive today was ever a slave. It is also highly doubtful that any former slave owner is alive today.

Many of us European-decendants, had no ancestor come to Ellis Island until the early 1900s, when slavery was already abolished.

If anyone believes that the African Americans alive today should receive reparations - it should come solely from our government (and I don't mean from OUR tax money)--from some other monies that the government spends foolishly.

I haven't heard of the Native Americans getting reparations for their land being stolen, their buffalo killed, them being forced onto reservations, or for their ancestors killed by the Europeans who WERE here in those days.

Answer 7

If you can prove your ancestory, like American Indians have then there are benefits. Native indians don't have to pay college tuition. I don't think reparations in the form of cash be paid. Maybe benefits that allow a person to get educated so it never occurs again is at hand. The old adage is you shouldn't be able to collect a dead mans wages. You should reep from the fight that ancestors fought for and that's to be able to worship, be free, support a family and be respected. Stand up for what your ancestors believed in. Work hard for what you can have and what you have. Love God , your spouse and children and kin folk.

Answer 8

No. Slavery has been long over. Why should people who never imposed slavery on another human being be forced to pay reparations to people who have never experienced slavery?

Answer 9

No. Let's just move on already. Yes, it was horrible. Yes, we should never forget what happened so it never happens again. No, we should not pay people money reparations for being slaves when they were never slaves. This was 150 years ago people, let's just keep moving forward instead of being stuck in the past.

Answer 10

No! I seriously doubt that any black slaves from the 1800's are alive today. And to say that my ancestors enslaving their ancestors caused this generation to be oppressed is the single most ridiculous thing I've ever heard in my life.

I should get reparations from them for having to hear this BS.