Should slavery reparations be paid?

Question

I think that blacks should be paid for the 300+ years of enslavement, racism and prejudice. As far as I know, affirmative action is all but dead, and there is no federally funded ***** college fund. And to top things off, there are no decent schools for black people to be prepared for life.

The country benefited too much from slavery. This way everyone benefits from a well educated citizenry.

Germans have own up to the Nazi era and have established Jewish funds for the families of the deceased. Why can the US do the same?

Answer 1

i don't think African Americans need reparations.....

we would better help our African American friends by providing them w/ viable opportunities and jobs that pay a livable wage!!!!!!

how do we do this? put more money in education..... this will recruit better teachers and make schools more equitable!!!!

Answer 2

There are no decent schools in the inner city, I assume you mean, because the liberals have lowered both academic and disciplinary standards to make sure everyone succeeds, no matter what and Blacks have played right into that mindset, though they often cannot read or read poorly by the time the graduate. You don't have a clue about inner city public schools or you wouldn't say such a thing.

If Blacks are capable of competing along side everyone else for a college spot, which I truly believe they are, then there is no longer a need for affirmative action. When affirmative action was begun, there was definitely a need for it since they generally did not have equal schools and equal availability to college. However, that has not been the case for many, many years. It is the Blacks, themselves, for the most part who continue to play the "victim role" and who continue to want to believe that "Whitey is keeping them down." It is easier to be a victim than to work for what you want.

There is also no federally funded middle class White kids-who-want-to-go-to-college-but-can't-afford-it college fund. It's called a student loan that you have to pay back. I've paid two back and it wasn't easy the second time around.

Bottom line is that either there is equality or there isn't. And I didn't even mention the quip of "Reparation for slavery? Isn't that what welfare is for?"

Answer 3

This has got to be an attempt to get a rise out of people right?

Reparations should not be paid. Linking actions from almost 150 years ago to current situations is not an effective argument. My ancestors came over as indentured servants, were treated as property and were barred from employment and property ownership after being released from servitude. Why can't I get repartations? The answer is because their are no grounds for it.

More white people live in poverty than blacks, more whites go to poor schools than blacks. Racism is a societal problem not a governmental problem. Given sufficient motivation anyone, and I mean anyone, can find their way out of a given situation and better their status in life. There are so many federal guidelines in place now protecting minorities that it is impossible for an employer to be racially biased against a black person.

As far as individual racism goes, that a personal opinion of an individual. Lots of people don't like other people, get over it. Lots of people don't like me because I'm different from them...big deal, its part of life.

As far as affirmative action goes, it creates an unfair advantage to those that don't deserve it. It is in essence societal welfare. Don't let them tell you that you are less able than others, because that is what affirmative action says.

Why should their be a federally funded ***** college fund? There is not White college fund funded by the federal govt. As a minority you qualify for more financial aid and have access to all the student loans any white person could acquire.

As far as schools go, many white people go to horrible schools and achieve success in college and become prepared for life.

Black Americans need to stand up and take responsibility for their own actions and better their situation on their own. Don't denigrate your heritage, your people, your portion of the american fabric by requesting a handout. Embrace hardwork and morality instead of government benefits and special treatment. Earn your place in this great country and become part of the solution instead of focusing on injustices done a century and a half ago. (Injustices which have been already addressed and answered for.)

You are right that all of society would benefit from a well educated citizenry. However the government and society as a whole cannot make someone become educated. They have to learn that going to school and striving for knowledge is good. They have to learn that hardwork is necessary and they have to learn the morals necessary to achieve success. These lessons are taught at home by the family. If you think that money can cure the lack of morals, the lack of a work ethic you are sorely mistaken.

Answer 4

Well I was not alive 400 years ago and I am sorry to say that particular discussion gets a little old. As Bill Cosby would say quit blaming the past and get off your butt and get some education. Yes a black man said that. As a nation the United States has made most of it's immigrant citizens feel less than human upon their entry to Ellis Island. I believe it is time to move forward, and no affirmative action is not dead; You better believe that from education to the work force the numbers game on ethnicity's still exists.
Regarding education, have you heard of the UNCF which has put out over 105 million dollars in scholarships? There are approximately 50 or so black colleges.
http://www.edonline.com/cq/hbcu/
http://www.uncf.org/

Answer 5

one million. i think of they must have been paid...good after slavery. TO the former SLAVES purely. 2. If any money grew to become into going to each physique now, i think of it would be to my grandparents or great grandparents era (they are actually deceased)...those have been men and ladies folk who lived decrease than segregation and customarily did jobs with out pension plans 3. i've got confidence that there are good arguments for this, even though it in no way surpassed off in the time of Reconstruction or the Civil Rights movements (the only 2 cases interior the rustic's background the place people ought to have been worried approximately black people) and it will in no way take place. 4. Many black people as we talk does no longer understand a thank you to apply the money properly. money and investment coaching is mandatory. AKA "THE DAVE CHAPPELLE SKIT WITH THE KOOL TRUCK isn't TOO some distance off THE MARK". bear in mind what the character reported in Barbershop approximately Cadillac being the quantity one dealership interior the rustic? Yeah, unhappy to declare yet some individuals could bypass there... 5. We purely ought to alter racists hearts and that's tougher than getting reparations, which will additionally in no way take place.

Answer 6

OH MY GOSH....Are you kidding me. Number one, who would be left to pay? You? Were you there? Number two, if anyone should be paid it would be the Indians. They were treated as bad if not worse than the slaves and their land was stolen. So where is my money? Geezzz I think if we look back through history lots of people were wronged but, no we shouldn't have to pay them? I mean look at how the Japanese were treated when they were building the railroads. Should we pay them too?

And the comment you made about college really makes me mad. There are so many scholarships and funds for African Americans that are not available to us. I have a far better GPA then most who are getting those scholarships.

I just don't get how you think things are not equal. Actually you would be right. There is some serious reverse racism these days. Do we have white American month? How about little Miss White America? Do we have WET instead of BET? NO!! So, you need to apply yourself and take advantage of those things that are given to you because they certainly are not given to white people.

Answer 7

Nice idea, but unworkable. First off, my family came here well after the abolition of slavery, how have I benefited? If I haven't benefited from it, why should I pay? Secondly, anyone of Slavic (Eastern European) decent likely have ancestors who were slaves (Roman decent too). Who is going to repay them? Third, would you provide reparations to recent immigrants (post 1860s) from Africa and the Carribean? I can go on listing unfair aspects, but the most unfair aspect is that lawyers would get a significant chunk of any reparations and the affected individuals would likely get coupons and be told that a fund had been set up for them (like the tobacco settlement). It can't work, sorry (although it would be entertaining, judging from Dave Chappell's assessment).

But I would like to see it, my only condition would be to totally do away with "Section 8" housing.

Answer 8

I am so sick of people that think because I am white and they are black that I somehow owe them something. You say there is no nationally funded black college fund, well there is no nationally funded white, hispanic, korean, asian, American Indian, or any other race out there funded college system either. Just because you are black does not mean you are entitled to some form of reparations for people that were oppressed 300+ years ago, people I am willing to bet you can't even name let alone claim as family members. I am part Jewish, should I be paid for my families horrific times in WWII era Europe? Hell No I shouldn't we persevered and so did many thousands of ****** who came to America via the slave trade. Again I am sick and tired of listening to lazy people thinking they should get some level of reparations for something done hundreds of years ago, go get some self-worth, get off the couch, go apply for student loans like 99 percent of the rest of the country does and get an education and stop begging for handouts. That is why America is lagging behind so many other countries in the world, too damn many Americans looking for the free ride.

Answer 9

No, although I understand the rage behind the idea.

If a black person's mom is white and their dad is black, should he get half the usual reparation payment? If both parents are black, and one is part Native American, what should he get?

Should Vietnamese immigrants help pay the reparations for crimes against humanity committed by somebody else's great-great-great-grandparents?

Instead, there should be a memorial in Washington, and a valid apology from the government. Blacks suffered unbelievably, yes, but the entire USA was disgraced by slavery, and the apology should be to all of us.

Answer 10

Are you joking? That is the worst idea I have ever heard in my life. This is why people are racist you know that right? You can not expect reparations for slavery when you yourself were not a slave. That is foolish and will never happen do you understand? Never!
You want to know how you prepare for life? You stop watching MTV Cribs and dreaming of the life you will never have, you learn to read, you finish school without getting arrested for robbing someone, then you can get a scholarship make something of yourself get a career and help other kids just like you. There are ways to pull yourself up and make something of yourself, dont blame everyone else for your inability to be a productive member of society.
Now I fully support welfare programs for people who truly need them, and I also have empathy for people who are in bad situations but if you will not make an effort than nothing can be done to help you.

Answer 11

To be honest, i don't know how to answer this without insulting you, but i will try

Slavery was down over 130 years ago. Yes, affirmative action is still in place, but not in my state, (woo hoo!) Federally funded colleges are done based on whether or not the college is a public one or not. Why should reparations be paid? You never even gave a reason for that, besides that they had relatives that were slaves

Germany owes me money then for WW2, and if they have, my family has not gotten any of it, because my family was Polish, but not Jewish, my family is Cathloc.