Does black America feel the government owes them something because of slavery?

Question

Remeber, slavery ended 140 years ago and nobody living today has ever owned a slave.

Remember also that blacks did not choose to be slaves. The offspring of slaves did not choose to be poor and disenfranchised. Our government activly pursicuted the black community untill very recently.

Answer 1

Maybe specific black people do...
but not all black American's as a whole....

You do have a point though.

Answer 2

Some Black people believe that the United States should pay reparations simply because they said they would give freed slaves 40 acres and a mule. It's been over 100 years since that statement and not an inch of land has been dispersed, and the only mule I've ever seen was on television. I don't think it's realistic to expect anything from the government. Well, maybe lies, higher taxes and the occasional sex scandal.

Answer 3

VERY IGNORANT QUESTION. Slavery was a NORMAL part of EVERY society in the World until the Christian led Anti-Slavery Movement of the late 19th Century. From Rome to Tibet, Greece to India, Egypt to China. Slavery was practiced by the Navajo, Cherokee and Mohawks of North America. It was an essential feature in the functioning of the Mayan, Aztec and Incan societies of South America. And the Hausa, Yoruba and Dinka tribes of Africa enslaved each other long before Europeans started buying them from their African masters. The Whole World should be responsible for slavery. Whites are responsible for being the first to abolish the practice.

Answer 4

You know, I think that's funny when black people are mean to me because I am white and act as if the world owes them something. I just want to tell them to get over it. Yeah, it would suck royally if your grandma's grandma's was a slave, but I did not have anything to do with that, and furthermore in Africa black tribes owned other Africans and sold them to the American traders. So it wasn't as if the big white boogeyman swooped down in the African Utopia and captured little innocent black people. Everyone, including the Africans, were in it for greed.

I do not want to come off as racist. My grandfather is black and the only male member of my family I have known well enough to truly love and respect, and I believe he would agree with me on this issue. I think racism no matter whose side its on is terrible, whether its whiteys still keeping the black man down, or if its black people disliking me immediately because I'm pale.

Answer 5

Example; If My family(USA) rob yours for 200 years and then give to some of your riches back. Then act as if it's a donation or charity? It never belong to them in the first place, just because some of my family memebers didn't steal it do than justifies them not to give it back?

Not blacks today or do they? But any way if your referring to the so-called Black race then yes. 80% of the crime committed against the so-called "black race" was from the government.

See what happen was that America this nation divided people into groups called white and black. So we see things as white and black and not how it should be. Their has never been a people who identify themselves by the term black. Black do not constitute a nation, nationality or culture.

But doing this in today's world makes it sound as if whites today owe blacks today for something their never did. Which is misleading because their is no such thing as whites or blacks.

But the "blacks" were once a nation of people from many nations in the continent of Africa. So those people today are still culturally tied with their native land those they are one. America is a nation the put many blacks of those nation in slavery for their own gain. So America do owe the nations who they wrongfully oppressed.

But the America government who did such things and benefit from such things is still here. The nation of people who they did it to are still here. No many how you cover it up this nation will always be responsible for it's crime. Even back then when they were free it was America that oppressed them for 100 years latter just so they can say "it was long ago".

Answer 6

I agree, this is 2006. Suck it up and move on. As a black person, I say: stop cryin' and get a life, you'r not slave now, so why dwell in the past? Look on to your bright future ahead, you can move on if your going backwards. On the other hand, I will never forget my roots...I don't feel the gov't owes me anything, I'm livin' my life happily. This is SO not the drama, what a waste of something to be upset about. Life is too short for stuff like this. SWEET LEAPING JESUS!!

Answer 7

As a white person, I feel more than qualified to answer this question.

I would imagine that most African Americans and black non-African Americans think that the government doesn't owe them anything.

I think that the idea of reparations is a fringe whack-o idea that a minority of blacks support. Unfortunately this vocal minority gets all the news coverage and gives black people a bad name.

Answer 8

First off, learn to spell persecuted. And no, poor blacks should not be given any more handouts from our government for their inability to be successful in industrialized countries.

Just because they don't have the genetics to be successful does not mean they are owed reparations.

Answer 9

I like Spanx and Kawaii's answers.
Which group HASN"T had it tough in the past? The native americans, the chinese, the irish, hispanics...it goes on and on.

It was a tragic moment in American history, but I think it's just a fringe idea supported by those who want something for nothing in this litigious "money will make it all ok" society.

Answer 10

I hear a lot of them complain...but never the Jews about what they went through or the Christians..or anyone else, because no matter what you are, every race and religion went through crap..everyone should just be greatful and worry about suffering today.