Did blacks build America?

Question

It is often said by civil rights and other political activists that 'America was built by the blood sweat and tears' of the black man, specifically the slaves.' How true is this? What part of the infrastructure of the North did slaves build? Is this claim a reality or political posturing?

Answer 1

I'm sorry I forgot that page in history when the special magical Wizard came down and gave this empty land to everyone and said,"Here, take this land and be productive it is free for all of you to ravage and destroy ...please take more than you need and waste every natural resource....."UM I do believe that NATIVE AMERICANS were already here and were doing just fine until IMMIGRANTS FROM ALL COUNTRIES came by force or by choice you all came, you all stole land, you all forced the indigenous people off there homelands, and you ALL (black white yellow brown) nearly caused an entire species of Humans to die out....I dare anyone of you to pick up a book and read about the trail of tears....Anyone who has ever read up on it wouldn't be whining about what THEIR culture has gone through.....

Answer 2

Political posturing.
And there were more white slaves when the country was first invaded by white men thatn there were black slaves. Check history books (more than one - some are detailed to show a real slant).
Native Americans also had slaves. That was where Sacajawea came from - she was a slave.

Some studies say that it wasn't until 1645 that the first black came to America. "In 1492 Columbus sailed the Ocean Blue" - and the immigrants flooded after. Many of the first people were 'discards' and sold as slaves (but they could buy their freedom). Not a pretty time in history - for any race.

So in essence - anyone who was here had a hand. Putting the building of the country strictly on one race is like saying that since you're right handed, only the right hand gets credit for that great book report, and the left hand has to do its own....

Answer 3

There was a time when the South was built by the blood, sweat and tears of the black man in America. It would be unfair to give them all the credit for building America. There have been so many good men and women from around the world who have come here and contributed to the building of America, as a whole. Native Americans have contributed so much too. It would be narrow minded to think only one race contributed to the building of this country. We are the melting pot of the world. Some came here of their own free will others not. I would have to say your statement would be bias.

Answer 4

Well, the South is part of America and yes indeed, every bit of industry was able to prosper because of free labor.
So, if you just want to limit to the North, then you're not talking about the whole America. So how could that be political posturing since the civil rights leaders are talking about the whole " America",? and by the way most of them did come from the South....

Answer 5

No. Use common sense. In all of American history, blacks have never constituted more than 10-12% of the population. In the early three centuries of colonial development, there were more white slaves than blacks. Black slaves did not outnumber white slaves until approximately the 1800s and were set free after the American civil war 1865.

Answer 6

It realtiy Slaves built The White House, the Capitol, Monticello just for starters
Here's an article about the New York Historical Society's Exhibit (Dec. 2005) Slaves Built this City http://www.columbia.edu/cu/current/articles/singerman.html

Answer 7

It's much-a-do about nothin'.
Americans bulit this country, some did it with no pay and some did it by inventing important technologies, and some did it by creating businesses and some did it by raising the kinds of sons and daughters who did these wonderful things. If anyone was wronged that's another discussion, but all Americans, including immigrants before they became Americans, built America; North and South!

Answer 8

Political posturing.

Not that the Blacks did not suffer under slavery, or that the country did not benefit from their labor.

The Irish, and the Poles are two groups that did a lot of the early heavy lifting.

Peace!

Answer 9

In those days,cotton was the mainstay of the economy.The whites could not do it,so they went to Africa to buy men.Instead of paying them,they were kept as slaves.It makes me sick to think about this but it saddens me that the American government and some whites still think the blackman is inferior.
My answer to you is,yes the slaves help build the North America.
As a blackman,I feel sick remembering this.
Good luck to you.

Answer 10

Well if you add in the Irish, the poles, the portuguese and about 50 other ethnic groups you have the complete and finished product of what truly consists the american builing blocks. Emancipating slavery built character. Killing Indians was not our finest hour.