White people, why do you say "I dont owe blacks anything" without even being accused of it?

Question

Blacks talking about slavery doesn't mean we think whites owe us

Why are you overly defensive?

When people are overly defensive, that's a sign of guilt

If a thief said "I didn't steal it" without even being accused of it, he probably stole it

because you're acting so guilty, maybe we need to investigate your famiy line's inheritance history

IF YOU KNOW YOU DONT OWE US, WHY ARE YOU AFRAID? WHAT'S WRONG?

DWELLING ON SLAVERY IS FUN. IT'S A FACSINATING SUBJECT. YOU GET OVER IT

Answer 1

your funny-your trying to put guilt by your reverse question-and only 10% of americans here today have relatives back to slavery days -they came from europe and elsewhere since the early 1900's but many run with that chip on their shoulder both colors-let Jesus set you free -david in Jesus amazing grace that saved a wretch like me :D

Answer 2

Wow -
My ancestors had their land take and sent out west from my moms side. Now you cant find any of my people.

My dads ancestors came over and pushed them over.

wow and guess what else my dads ancestors did? Work for Hitler.
So that makes me
Cherokke,English-German WHITE girl.

no one owes anyone anything. you me me you, native americans germans etc. What our ancestors did we cant undo.

Maybe similar to war in Iraq. How long will they hate Americans? And how long will their kids hate americans. and on and on.

If blacks are talking about slavery - is there some current day slave trading going on? There is - in other coutnries and maybe you should focus on that and help someone now.

We all have equal rights here in America so let go. We can not change the past. But maybe we could help someone somewhere else.

I didnt own slaves or participate. I think that ended before I was born. Im sure you were not born then either.

I dont get overly defensive becuase my family line consists of Native americans who were pushed away or my german ancestors killing jews. Way worse than slavery. But what can I do? That was YEARS ago.

Let go and help and put that effort somewhere where it is needed. Missing kids, slavery and abuse in other coutries.
Read something,educate yourself. There has been more than ONE type of slavey and it started in Egypt hundreds of years ago. Afro-Americans are not the only people to have ever suffered slavery.

Answer 3

To all others who don't understand why Blacks still talk about slavery, it's because it was the foundation on which this country was built and the residue of that nasty part of American history still affects African Americans today and some people choose to turn a blind eye to that little detail. While I don't agree that Blacks should allow that to be the excuse of an INDIVIDUAL down-fall, we should not be fixated on it and we should focus on getting out of the crisis that we are currently in. And for those whites and other races who say that America doesn't owe the relatives of slaves anything, you may not, but the government and some current insurance companies do. If you still don't believe me, pay attention to history of reparations payments:

1990 USA-$1.6 billion-Japanese American
1986- USA- $32 million (1839 treaty)- Attawas of Michigan
1985-USA- $31 million- Chippewas of Wisconsin
1985-USA- $105 million- Sioux of South Dakota
1971-USA-$1 billion + 44 million acres of land-Alaska Natives
1865-2006-USA- $0-African Americans (black descendant).

There's a ton more facts that I have dealing with other races whom have received payments. And although I don't expect to see anything coming in the way of my family due to the hardships that my ancestors endured, it's at least necessary to remind people of yet another injustice that America will never own up to.

Answer 4

I have heard some of my friends who are white say comments to similar to yours, but I have also heard black people make comments as if we are responsible for slavery, even though we aren't . If you want to know who exactly strated slavery of the blacks, it was the kings of africa. I know I was surprised too. Yes, it was your own people who enslaved you. As well as all the other cultures. teh differnce is the other cultures don't feel like they should be owed something, and you may feel that you are not owed anything, but there are a lot of black people who feel that way.

Slavery is terrible and no it's not a fun topic to discuss, but it is in our history and I think everyone should leave it alons in the past. Looking to today's world there are so many problems that we should talk about, e.g. education, poverty, crime, and the war.

to me these topics deserve our attention. these toopics have new victims that deserve our help NOW.

I hope this did not offend you, it was not suppose too.

Answer 5

Well, seeing as my family wasn't even in this country till World War I, go ahead.

But even if they were in this country for centuries, I haven't even been on the planet for 30 years, so I pretty much had nothing to do with slavery, unless you think I was a slave owner in a previous life and should be held accountable for reincarnation.

People get defensive for a variety of reasons, and feel guilty for a variety of reasons. I know if I'm going 80 mph down the high way, and there's a black guy next to me going that fast, he's probably the one that's getting pulled over. So knowing that its wrong and knowing that society isn't where it should be, I feel bad being in the privileged group. Keep in mind, as a woman, my privilege only goes so far. Have you ever walked by yourself at night? I haven't. Have to protect myself.

What's important to acknowledge here is that we all get dumped on by society at some point in time, and the animosities don't only go one way.

Answer 6

Here is a good example, this actually happened to me: I worked in a convienance store every day when school ended a couple of black male students would come in the store, walk over to the fountain soda dispencer fill up the biggest size glass stand there drink it and then set the cup down and walk out of the store,without paying. I watched them do it a couple of days and on the third day as they started out the door I said " excuse me that will be a dollar, six cents" one of the men said what, what are you talking about? I said " the soda you stood over there an drank", he said "i didnt drink no soda," I said yes you did and that video camera there will prove what I am saying so If you don't give me 1dollar 6 cents when you walk out that door I will call the police on you,He became angry threw the money on the counter and said to me " you old white *****, you people are the reason we are oppressed, you are the reason we are here, you people brought us here, And I returned his compliment by saying to him " hey, I didn't bring nobody-no-where but I'll give you $100.00 and a one way ticket back to Africa and you can starve with the rest of them. Now before you get on your high horse, I believe one good insult deserves another.
I think its time that everyone needs to get over it, I didn't agree with slavery, but that was way before my time.And I am sick of hearing how we (White People) are the cause of every injustice the black man has endured
This is 2006 we are intergrated,we are married to each other , we have bi-racial children in our families, let the s--- go, get on with life

Answer 7

It depends upon how they are referring to slavery. Slavery existed and still exists in many forms. Slavery is simply when a person is owned or controlled by someone else or a group of people. Slavery is not limited to the people that were owned by other richer Americans prior to the Civil War. Slavery can also mean the bond-servants of the Jewish traditions (B.C.) where they had to save and buy their freedom. Slavery can mean any person who is enslaved financially by allowing him/herself to become so indebted to another that he/she cannot find escape. Slavery can mean any of the many women, men, and children who have been "sold" into prostitution and drugs.

If you are only referring to when a "black" person says that his/her social ills exist because slavery once existed, then I would say that the response of, "I don't owe you anything," is really a challenge to stop making excuses. Slavery exists in all nationalities, in all races, in both sexes . . . so maybe the "blacks" that are talking about this should be on the defensive, themselves - offering solutions, not problems.

Answer 8

well speaking for myself i have never said that, but i have gotten upset when i'm watching tv and someone starts going on about racism (i personally have never really witnessed this) and about slavery. First off the majority of black people that are talking about it, were never even there or experienced this, why are they angry? we shouldn't forget but do we have to go over it all the time? every where you turn its always "they didn't give me the job because i'm black" well i didn't get the job either. " they pulled me over because i'm black", well they pulled me over too. I don't know anybody whos racist, maybe i've been lucky, my family is about as mixed as they come. I love who ever i want regardless of color. But if you've heard people say those things, then i think your right, they probably guilty of being racist, but not everybody is. So maybe you should start your question "white people who say."

Answer 9

I know that i will probably be lambased for saying this but the truth is sometimes we black people really do give of an attitude that sends a signal that someone, especially the white people owe us something.
You are right about every thing else though.

Answer 10

I'm a little black a little scandinavian and a little bit a bunch of stuff and don't even consider what it would be like if one of my ancestors hadn't been "bred" by an irish and west indies "trader." I just get on with life. I think you made this up to stir up stuff and say that nifty thief analogy coz I don't remember seeing anyone here just blurt out "I don't owe...." for no reason at all....