A question about reparations for blacks?

Question

If there should be reparations for blacks, shouldn't it be taken to the source. I mean the persons who initially threw them into slavery pay them. The African Tribe Chiefs who sold their own people should be the ones accountable, if they hadn't sold em, then they would not have been slaves right? Shouldn't they pay reparations to blacks in America, not Americans?

PS, i'm against reparations by the way

Answer 1

The whole concept is ridiculous. The point is to get to equality between the races, not to give people special treatment just for being members of a minority group. All that does is push us apart. Giving money doesn't "make things even" or even "get revenge" for the abominable practice of slavery and the slave trade. It's pointless to even sit and try to caste blame "where it belongs" for slavery, period. What's more, a lot has already been done to address disadvantages, like Affirmative Action. What reparations advocates seem to be missing the boat on is that black people are as essentially American as anyone. Take a look around at our culture, and you can see how important black people are - between jazz, hip-hop, the arts, literature, sports, politics, business - they have an enormous influence on our culture and society, and they are as important and vital as anyone. It's true that "the struggle" is not over, and we may never have a perfect society, but it's one thing to ensure equality regardless of race, and another to enforce inequality and different treatment because of race.

If we're going to treat black people differently because they're black, it's a major step backwards in my opinion. It's akin to saying that a whole group of people is inferior and deserves special treatment for that reason. What is giving every black person $10,000 (or any amount of money) going to solve? Are we going to give the same amount to everyone? Do Oprah and Jay-Z and Jesse Jackson and Dr. Dre and Barack Obama and Condoleeza Rice all get the same amount? Do they get less? How do we decide? It's a mockery and a deplorable shame, and a terrible disservice to the society.

Answer 2

first of all I dont advocate reparations. saying that let me say that the ideal that blacks dont deserve reparations when it was given to the japanese and others is an indication of the small mindness of the people who are posting here. To say that blacks should be happy because they were sold into slavery is sick. affirmative action has helped because without it many blacks would still be working in the fields. yet, we have those who think it should now be done away with..the field is no where near equal but I shudder to think how bad it would truly be without affirmative action.

For those who think that all blacks should return to africa..with reparations. There is also caucus in the mountains of russia where you may return too if you have found that there are too many blacks in america for you.
The only originals in the usa is the american indians and I have no doubt that they would love to see you leave as well. We will not reach a point of almost equality in this great nation as long as posters continue the racist based questions to incite racism from the responders.

Answer 3

I am not sure about reparations, if you give blacks reparations what about native Americans, or the Irish when they were practically slave labor in the mines, or how about w\after the dust bowl, the oakies were treated like slaves. So many people in the US were treated badly, abused, and used how can we pay reparations to all of them. These things are even going on today, large corporations are sending work overseas so they can pay slave wages to overworked people in third world countries. I think we should just stop the abuse now and put the current slave owners into prison. You know who you are.

Answer 4

Imagine that you are mad horny one day. You are away from home in a different state. You decide to procure the services of a lady of the night. While you are paying money to this prostitute, your friendly neighborhood policeman views the transaction and arrests you both.

Slavery was legal back then but if it wasn’t, both parties would be responsible for the buying and the selling of humans.

Reparations for black slaves seem to be a no win situation for America as a whole. The thing that would benefit America the most is a brain transplant for all those who are racist and who stereotype. They are the problem.

For me, there is no amount of compensation that would make up for the deplorable treatment of the slaves, and the dehumanizing laws that followed with Jim Crow (1880’s-1960’s). Hey, all I want is the knowledge of the place, the people, and the culture of my ancestors back in Africa, as it is a huge continent and my history and culture was forever lost in slavery.

Answer 5

The American government allowed the purchase of slaves & used bully tactics to get one tribe to sell out the other. If the American government hadn't allowed the purchase of slaves, we wouldn't have slaves either. BOTH sides should pay IF there were to be reparations.


Am I the only person who actually read the question? He's not asking if you're for or against reparations. He's asking that if they were to be given, who would be financially responsible for giving them.

Answer 6

you know I am not black, but supposedly this subject and this matter still haunts a lot of black people, I don't know why, I cannot begin to put myself in their shoes, an actually their has been a lot of other races that have ancestors that were enslaved, I drink enough alcohol and do enough drugs to just not care about the immediate pain of racisim or prejudices and really crappy things that have happened in the past and continue to still happen in this day and age, if mankind dropped off the face of the planet tomorow I'd say we all had a pretty good run but in the end, our existence here so far has seemed pretty plauged, I think if there were just the anilmals left and no man or women I'd like this earth a lot better, people are so screwed up in the head, you'll never see an animal sitting around crying how his ancestors had it bad, or for that matter how bad they have had things, that should make you think about something and if it doesn't then you have forgotten something, and you wanna know what that is? just how bad things could really be and how good you've got things now

Answer 7

If I believed there should be reparations then I would agree with you. I am sure if I looked back in history, I would find someone who oppressed my ancestors. Should I demand reparation from them today? And for the blacks who think they deserve reparation, here they are living in a good country because of slavery back then. If they don't like it, then I think the appropriate reparation would be a one way ticket back to Africa.

Answer 8

Reparations should not be paid to anybody. Any blacks in America should consider themselves lucky to be here. Had their ancestors not been 'sold' into slavery, they would not be here now and have the benefit of Lexus, Playstation, Popeye's Fried Chicken, Grillz, Rap Music, etc.

Blacks should be thankful and shut up.

Answer 9

Umm, I'm black, and I happen to be an American, sooo are you implying that I'm actually paying reparations to myself and to other black people as well?
I don't understand what the problem is? Unless we are being payed out of your pockets, why would you even be worried about it? That's like the people who complain, "the Mexican are taking all our jobs", well if you educated yourselves and strived for more, people wouldn't be crying over jobs, instead they'd be trying to make their own business, build their own establishment, etc.
That's the problem with America today, people, we, can't mind our own business, and we are so quick to complain instead of just taking steps to resolve.

Just my opinion

Answer 10

Reparatons to decendants of slavery is not only ludicrous its impossible and where would it stop and who would recieve it many people today are probaly decendants of both slave and slave owners...Who is responsible many Americans have immigrated to this country after slavery are they too being held responsible and liable and as you stated who are we liable to I am of Irish and Cherokee decent who would I owe and how about jews who were slaves and all sorts of other races and many countries throughout history have taken part in slavery probably every man ever born is a decendant of a slave at some point in history........as I said it is rediculous