Why should reparations be paid to descendants of slaves? Slavery was, after all, legal at the time.?

Question

It would be impossible to administer fairly. Most Americans don't know their lineage well enough to assert, let alone prove, harm from slavery (or the converse, that their ancestors are responsible for or benefited from slavery). This means -- and most reparations advocates seem to concede -- that reparations would be paid to black Americans by other Americans simply on the basis of race.

Answer 1

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 2

Would you punish the descendants of white slave owners for what their great-great grandfather did to his slaves? No. A person can't help what their family has done in the past, as they were not alive yet. The same goes for the descendants of slaves: although it is sad that it did happen, they were not involved directly and do not deserve reparations for damages done by slavery. If you were an original slave, then yeah I could see that happening. but the descendants that are two generations from any actual slavery shouldn't get reparations.

Answer 3

Another way for people to get something for nothing. Plus it was their own people that sold them to the white man in the first place so blame your own family. If you don't believe me study up.Half of Black Americans are receiving some sort of finacial assistance from the state as it is. And half of them aren't do anything to contribute. Slavery was legal and i don't agree with slavery whatsoever. But this is a new era where everyone is equal. And if thats the way people want it then quit whining about your damn color. Whoever wants to think that white people get more than everybody else is dead wrong. I Have be working my butt off and what do I have to show for it. not crap, but the point is I don't go around saying poor me i'm broke someone owes me something and I get called white girl or i don't belong here or there almost everyday.Some Blacks bring up the racism word for everything . Have you stopped to think that maybe youre treated different for that reason. I don't get an all white funded school or a scholorship for being white or a special loan for the color of my skin. So if its fair, people want then cut out all this dang segregation. And lets live as one nation instead of working against one another.

Answer 4

Reparations is something the government has come up with to keep the fires of hate and discontent alive in our country. Politicians know that if we, as a people, have something like this to keep our minds occupied we will not notice the underhanded things that they do...(like getting together and voting themselves a raise every now and then.). Government knows that if they keep stirring the pot, we will keep eating the soup. All races in the USA need to come together as one nation. We are all Americans & any monies that are taken from the government's stash, will not hurt the rich, upperclass jerks that run our nation. It will, however, have an adverse reaction on the people who are already struggling to make ends meet. I can almost guarantee that any reparations will NOT come out of the pockets of our over-paid congress, senate, president, or state officials.....its going to wreak havok on the little man who pays taxes and works for a living.

Answer 5

Just because slavery was legal at the time does not mean it was right. It was a horrible institution that fostered the seeds of hatred, racism, and discrimination that exist in our society today. I am not saying that reparations should be paid, but, why does it matter to you the money is coming out of your pocket.

Answer 6

It should not be paid, the people who were enslaved are now deceased, and records kept so poorly back then that who was who and who in the world are their descendants? Its just another way for the blacks who are racist to scream for another free handout at taxpayers expense since their are dependent limits on welfare.
I don't get why some blacks think they were the only ones who were enslaved. Thousands came to this country as indentured servants after these yehaws were freed.

Answer 7

no the white forefathers owned themselves dozens of slaves each when they wrote the constitution. they knew what they were writing about and who they were excluding when "all men are created to be equal" was put down. no reparations were drafted in the constitution. slavery wasnt abolished until 100 years afterward and even then.. racial tension for another 100 years

Answer 8

He!l yeah I wanna get my reparations. If you were taken away from your native country to do work at no pay against your will, and was killed if you tried to leave or raped sexually just because, then your @ss would be feeling the same damn way. Or maybe you never thought of it that way or just had lack of knowlegde.

Answer 9

because your white forefathers ordered it in the constitution but haven't upheld it.

Answer 10

nobody of african descent received them.nor will anyone of african descent ever receive it.so what the hell does it matter now.........that is all but forgotten about.......the government lies all the time...NEXT.....