Should African governments apologise to the English for Slavery?

Question

An entire English village was captured by African slavers and taken away prior to any English slave trade, so following Blair's reasoning African Governments should apologise for that? African Nations already practised slavery before the English or before them the Arabs started slaving. Finally, I have never enslaved anyone, nothing for me to apologise for and therefore nothing for the government, since they just the representatives of myself and other UK citizens, including UK citizens of African descent. The argument that because by some chance of birth I am guilty for the sins of previous generations is false

What's up, thank you for your carefully reasoned and informative answer - NOT

Answer 1

I agree entirely with Dr Evil. You cannot be held accountable under any legal system for other peoples crimes. Slavery was not even an offence until its abolition.
As for compensation, the descendants of those slaves are now placed all over the world with those who escaped slavery appearing to be worst off.
Will we be asked to pay compensation to the countries that the slaves came from or to the descendants in many various and interesting places?

Answer 2

This is about the 5th question posted in less than 2 hours by a non black person about slavery. It seems to me you all have the problem letting it go. If you think Jews have gotten over the Holocaust you're insane. They are still tracking down and prosecuting Nazis to this day. They will never forget and neither will African Americans but if you want the subject dropped then DROP IT !! Edit: Deeya makes a very good point about the reparations made to Jews, all the money, land and the protections they received right after the Holocaust. African Americans got nothing and have had to fight hard just for basic human rights ever since slavery.

Answer 3

No one should have to apologise for anything that happened before their lifetime. I mean, the slave trade didn't exactly happen in living history, so what exactly can be established by apologising at this time. It's just the PC brigade finding something else to b1tch about. Where will it all end? It happened hundreds of years ago and doesn't affect us now in any way shape or form so tell me how anyone can possibly be traumatised by it? I know, try phoning injury lawyers 4 U, maybe they can get some compensation for us...

Answer 4

Blair should apologise to the Brits and the Iraqis first, for being such a cnut. But we should remember, it was the Arabs and other Africans who caught the people and forced them into slavery. It was the English (Wilberforce and co) who helped end the vile practice. Still, some people carry the chip 200 years later. SOOOOO sad.

Answer 5

We don't need to apologise as it was nothing to do with us. African chiefs enslaved other tribes and sold them initially to the arabs. European traders, including some from the UK then got involved but it was still the Africans selling each other.

Answer 6

I'm sorry Emagem, but the British didn't start the slave trade in West Africa. We took it over from the Spanish, who in turn had taken it over from the Moor and Arabic traders. Today the trade continues in places like Mali.

I don't feel there is any harm in saying sorry or expressing regret for what our ancestors did. In another answer today, I've laid out the reasons why no compensation should be payed however.

Answer 7

There is a simple way out of this -- Let,s all keep Apologising to each other for the next 100 years -- we will all Die of F U C K I N G Boredom

Answer 8

no, the africans have nothing to apologise for... neither do we.

they had gold and diamonds, we gave them shoes and an education.

they had land and natural resources, we had the most powerful army in the world...

and we allowed them to become part of teh British Empire with all teh privelidges and rights of any British citizen...

apologise..FOR WHAT? without our investments africa would be a wilderness. imagine what would have happened under the boers or the russians (crimea) had we not interveined...

they ought to be saying thank you...

Answer 9

i keep saying that 60 per cent of the slave trade was done by Africans.so are they going to ask for apologises off the tribal chiefs.i don't think so.for refs=look at your good history books.

Answer 10

Yes of Course they should,and also for all the wrongs they have done to many Nations around the World, for the Glory of Their Empire.