Question for white people: Why do you think that all blacks feel that we are owed something?

Question

I'm just wondering, because I don't feel that I am owed anything. I don't know any black people who feel this way. Where are you meeting these people? I want to know. Some life experiences would be great. I really would like to understand this.

Acid toung: So what are you saying, there are no white people on welfare?

TC, I am talking about the ones who DO think that. If you don't think it, then the question doesn't pertain to you.

Regina P. Thank you for that. I do know there are some racist black people out there, and I just wanted examples. But that was one lady. Do you have any others? E-mail me if you do.

Answer 1

in my opinion i think some black ppl feels that way because white ppl used to use them as slaves and for some reason the black ppl today use it against white ppl. like we owe them. one time i was parked waiting for my cousin to come out of her apt. and this black lady pulled up and honked her horn at me and when i looked over she was griping because i was parked on the white line and she called me a whte honky and we were calling each other names and stuff and she made a comment that white ppl don't need to be driving. we should have been the ones that were slaves because we were stupid. and i told her that i have never had a slave and she was never a slave so y bring it up, and she said her great grandparents were. and i said that you are angry at me because somehow before me or u were born i somehow enslaved your great grandparents . and she said white ppl in general isn't no good because of that.
so that made think that thats the reason some thinks that way.

Answer 2

I took a class in college called Slavery and reparations and there were a lot of people who felt blacks were owed something, and they weren't all blacks either.

The argument for reparations on the grounds of slavery is hard to bring into realization because there are no living slaves today. However, one could make a claim for reparations based on the generational poverty and lingering racism, which is the birth mother of slavery. I think the generational poverty theory will hold in the Courts more than anything.

Generational poverty is defined as having three or more generations of a particular family living at or below the poverty level. With GP comes hopelessness, fear, resentment and hate which leads to many blacks in poverty resorting to drugs and violence because they don't feel they have a way out. It's a mentality that's been passed down since the slaves were freed.

When the slaves were freed, they weren't given jobs because the white people threatened to boycot or quit. This thrust them into slums (present day ghettos) which were specifically made for these newly freed slaves. The males of the households often left, either because they were running from the lynch mobs or because they'd been programmed to view themselves as studs, merely here to produce children. This is why there so many female-fronted household today.

So, reparations can be supported based on this and, a lot of the people who are trying to make it happen are angling it more toward the residual effects of slavery than slavery itself.

But, to answer your question, I don't think that "white people" (meaning as a whole) think what you said. I think that's what you think they think. I can assure you, you're mistaken.

Answer 3

I don't think that all do, but most whites seem to feel that lots of black people hate them automatically for being white. It feels like the loudest champions for black people are angry and not very willing to compromise.

That's just how it feels, and as a fellow human being that struggles, it can be frustrating when you are told that you 'have it easy' because you are white.

Quite frankly, I haven't really had any negative experiences with black people, but I live in the bay area which is so diverse it makes being racist seem pretty redicilous. There have been a couple of times when I've been to speeches or protests and the speaker can't contain themselves and starts bashing white people, and lots of people start to cheer, and the animosity level around me has gone way up, so I could feel it and wasn't comfortable at all. I can't speak for the rest of the country, but like I said most folks where I live seem to get along okay.

Sorry I tried to answer your question and I'm not sure if I stayed on topic or not. hope it helped......

Answer 4

The idea of reparations for former slaves just cannot be realized. The only glaring implementation of preference I have experienced happened to me twice at a major computer manufacturer located in Austin, Texas. I'm white, older male. I didn't have a chance of getting a permanent position. It was my misfortune to be assigned to predominately white crews. The crews with the majority of blacks were invited to become permanent employees.

Affirmative Action was needed when it was conceived, but now all the gains will become negated by the rise of other ethnic cultures. I've seen the community of blacks getting pushed aside for affordable rents. And, I had a deep kinship with that community.

I'm glad slavery did happen. Blacks have contributed to the American experience and have made the American culture so much richer.

Answer 5

I know it says "Question for white people:" And being Native American doesn't qualify, but i feel i need to answer this anyways. I think that African Americans are owed something because they were taken away from their homeland and shipped over here to America. They came to America and worked their asses off to build America. Not only that, but they, like Native Americans suffered through hundreds of years of oppression and racism. They were whipped, beaten and killed. Just for being black...I think that it would be a nice thing for the government to do- pay African Americans back for what was done to them, because what happens in the past affects the future. There is a lot of intergenerational stress and resentment that has been passed down through the years, and i think by paying the African Americans back for what was happened to them and their ancestors would help relieve some of that resentment. It wouldn't fix the problems but it would help.

Answer 6

Those with extreme opinions always get news time, and when people see other people on TV (in this case, black people), they tend to assume they represent the entire group.

In the same way, most people think that all Christians don't believe in evolution (not true).

That being said, I have met people who believe in reparations for slavery, and other things like that, but they are in the vast minority.

Answer 7

Pamela, I have black colleagues at work whom I respect and admire, because they earn their way through life without depending on the government or anybody else. Martin Luther King said it a long time ago, we need to judge one another not by the color of our skin, but by the content of our character. Furthermore, I have the greatest respect for African Americans serving in the U.S. armed forces, some of whom are putting their lives on the line for their country.

Answer 8

i think a lot of that comes from ur being raised that way..and perhaps goes back to slavery as well..but i also think a lot of poeple use it as an excuse to get what they want an what they need,however not all black people think that way i know a lot who dont feel they r owed anything......

Answer 9

I am learning communications skills. Blacks ask to not be
stereotyped, like all blacks think and act they same. That
is true for all people. We are all individuals.
Try not to use exaggerations and generalities like "everybody" does this, or you "always" do that. It will help you to get your
point across better.

Answer 10

i don't think black people think they are owed something, in general.

However, i believe that black people ( like most everybody) think they are owed a fair shot at a job for which that have experience or training.
and that seems fair to me.