do white people have guilt in their hearts bcus of slavery &y?

Question

Slavery happend over 400 years ago and yet there are people who carry on hatred toward black people as if they can justify why.We are so mixed as a people that no one is considered a specific race accept the human race of which we all are apart of. what do you think?

Answer 1

No why should we. All of our ancestors (Black and white) did things that would be unacceptable by our standards. This generation is innocent of the crime, therefore the conscience of this generation is clear.

Answer 2

The human race does not need a reason to hate and those who hate certainly do not feel the need to justify it. We may all be part of the human race but unfortunately there will always be those who will seek power by supposing superiority over another for what ever reason - colour, religon, sex, political beliefs - take your pick.

As to your question of guilt - are you suggesting the sins of the father should be considered the sins of the son? That those who are related to the slave owners of old are responsible for the actions of people they didn't know and had no control over did? A bit of a ridiculous theory don't you think? Are you confusing being against slavery with a resulting guilt that it happened - the two things are not related.

I don't belong to a country or people that ever owned slaves but if I did I wouldn't feel guilt as it wouldn't have been my doing or a reflection of my beliefs or wishes.

Finally you say 'white' people - I'll think you'll find that white people were not the only slave keepers - so do you feel guilty that there was slavery?

Answer 3

It's easy to say, "hey my folks were in Europe at the time of slavery in America." Since most Americans did come over around the turn of the century, this arguement would be correct.

However, recently I watched the movie "Amistad." This movie brings home the reality of slavery. Sickening...no human being should EVER be treated this way.

In human civilization, there was always slavery. However Africans had it far worse simply because of their skin color. While other slaves,
like in Greek or Roman times, were set free after a certain amount of years, Africans were not.

Plus Africans were more harshly abused because they were thought of as less than others. Do I feel guilty? Well I feel that it just wasn't fair. So no I don't feel guilty but I do feel
bad. That Blacks today should be given a fair deal.

They need to be heard...how many geniuses were lost because of this atrocities? Remember their families were split up...this affect them as a people up to today.

To think, we gave Haliburton billions of dollars for what? We could of compensated every black person with free college or money.

I'm not saying we owe them the world. But they, as humans, are owed dignity, respect and a right to pursue the American dream unhindered by a clouded past, not of their making.

You don't have to be a Democrat or a Republican to have feelings of empathy & fairness for others. You just need a heart, soul
& the strength to do the right thing.

http://www.npg.si.edu/col/amistad/index.htm

Answer 4

Uh first slavery did not happen 400 years ago try about the 1800 to early 1900's and how can someone feel guilt for something that they did not do as many historians say don't dwell in the past

Answer 5

Slavery happened about 200yrs agao. That was a sad time in american history, and I feel bad that people had to suffer so terribly. I don't feel guilt because I didn't do it. The hatred has been bred into the people of both races over the generations. ..... I am in agreeance that we are one race, the human race. I don't care what color you are or what religion you practice. We are all equal under what ever god you pray too.

Answer 6

I don't feel guilty, nor do I "carry on a hatred" toward black people. I've never owned a slave and neither has anyone else in this lifetime. I don't feel that I owe them anything, just as they shouldn't feel that they owe me anything. Whatever people think, we're all born with a clean slate and an opportunity to make our life whatever we want.

Answer 7

I don't feel guilty because I'm white. I'm sorry but that's silly. That's like saying a black person should feel like a slave because they're black. I don't have anything against black people; I enjoy seeing a black person achieve a position of importance because their success denies the stereotype which is unfortunately promoted by many black rap artists (criminal-minded, uneducated, no motivation, etc).

Answer 8

Look, people have made bad descisions in the past but we're living in today. A great injustice was done to the Jews by the Nazis, but that doesn't mean that the descendants of those people need to feel guilt

Answer 9

I don't have gult at all. My family had nothing to do with slavery and fought the south in the civil war. Whites were slaves alot longer then blacks ever were

Answer 10

I'm white and the thought of slavery never crosses my mind, i have enough to worry about, I don't need to worry about something that happened hundreds of years ago.