why should certain English cities have to apologize for their conection to slavery?

Question

I feel its wrong for certain black members of the population,to expect an apology for something that is so far in the past, and have they approach the arab nations for one,as they were doing it long before the western nations,Why don`t they put their efforts into combating it in Niger,where its still going ON ,not put the guilt on the Country that outlawed it first!!!!!!

Answer 1

In This country Devon and Cornwall were subjected to the devastation of many villagers.The pirots from the coasts of North Africa Morocco being one of the main ones .took all the peoples by force into slavery and left the villages deserted they were taken back to Africa And sold .and fetched a good price on the Markets cause they were white .Loads were take from the south West of this Country .Are the old Barbary coast Countries going to apologise to Cornwall and Devon peoples.Think on that one Also are they going to ask for an opology from the African Chiefs Ancestors that sold there own people of different tribes to the Arabs to sell to the whites .The most opposition to stop slavery was from Africa .

Answer 2

I don't think we can apologise for past, historical events. It is impossible for a genration of people to apologise for something for which it was not responsible, it would come across as empty and pointless. It is however, very important we acknowledge the damage that aspects of history caused in order to progress and develop the idea of integration, equality and tolerance. Instead of allowing historical horrific events to haunt the present and future we need to mark the seriousness of these events but also allow them to inform our future and shape a better world.
Much like has been done or is trying to be done with the pardons on Servicemen shot for desertion in WW1 and the victims of the holocaust in WW2.
Also how can we have a future of tolerance, equality and intergration unless all such past events are dealt with a similar manner? If we single out certain groups for a more marked and specail approach then we continue to highlight only the differences in people.

Answer 3

My personal belief is this:

As long as a city doesn't acknowlege publicly any wrongdoing, there is a subconscious message that blacks can keep on being treated poorly. It helps a region move on ethically in history.

I don't think it is just *slavery*...it is the 2nd rate...NO...the 5th and 6th rate citizen labels that we gave blacks that has harmed the culture. Yes, many slaves came to the states after being sold into it by their own people, but our country is responsible for having abused them for so long.

I can't imagine how a black person must feel looking at some of the pics of separate drinking fountains/bathrooms/dining areas that existed for blacks and whites.

In order for all that to persist, we dehumanized the black race. It takes an apology or two to re-humanize them again.

You are right...we need to combat it in those other countries as well. I don't feel guilty as a white person, but am glad there have been apologies, etc, so we can all move forward and tackle the offenders that still exist.

Answer 4

if i met a young german person i wouldn't expect them to start apologising profusely for ww 1& 2 as it would have nothing to do with them.. and what would it achieve?? what happened was terrible and lessons should be learned from it, but i dont see the point in the people of the 21st century apologising for something that happened generations ago and has nothing to do with them. maybe looking to the future and making practical steps to improve our society, race relations etc in the here and now would be a more productive course of action??

Answer 5

I don't think they expect an apology but when racism is still rife its hard for people to forget about the past whether they are black, green, purple, brown, orange, yellow or red! I think of people as people, not what colour, race or religion they are & if more people had that attitude I don't think there would be a problem.

Answer 6

Well because even though slavery is over, racism is still alive. Didn't u see the posts under Polls & Surveys yesterday?

Answer 7

I agree with you. Does anyone think I'm gonna say 'sorry' for something my grandfather did?? I don't think so. It's about time these people that want an apology for something that happend yonks ago woke up and smelled the coffee.

Answer 8

I don't pretend to know much about this subject & in no way try to justify slavery, but when African tribes have fought each other in the past & took prisoners, how have they treated their slaves? Were their conditions any better than those slaves exported?

Answer 9

Sounds crazy to me,
Where on earth do these people come from.
How on earth do they pass there time of day.
peeping out of the windows at home,phoning the police every time some one passes the door.?
The mind boggles.

Answer 10

Gosh, how many of these questions will be asked? If someone asks you to apologize and you don't want to: don't apologize and keep it moving. That's it, that's all

I'm not asking for an apology and I don't know anyone who is