Do white people owe black people anything?

Question

I still cant understand why the hell white people are racist after 400 years of Evil - a whole race of people being EVIL toward another race. Millions died in the most Evil ways for over 400 years... I mean: four HUNDRED years... Come on man, thats a damn long time!! Imagine what that means to modern black people with names like 'THOMAS'... that ain't a damn black name.. come on , white people! I love all people, but god damn, how can you guys still sit down in front of your TVs every night and not do anything to help a race of people that you have damn near destroyed... OK, CALM DOWN, I know it's not you personally the facts are that black people are still suffering the effects of 400 years of slavery and all the responsible white people are dead or dying then I'm sorry man but surely someone, somewhere has to shoulder some kind of responsibility - even if it is just to stop the racism (some blatant, some more subtle) that is found in all four corners of the press & daily society?

WOAH.. I am not a racist and i dont think all or most white people are racist, half my family is white, but i do think White people owe black people understanding of our situation, After slavery we did'nt anything but a pat on the back and the ghetto, am i wrong to ask this question? Some of you misunderstood me, but thats OK =) I expected most of the negitive answers.

Answer 1

Black people today are not feeling the effects of what happened during their Grandfathers era. There are more social programs from minorities than there are for White Men. Black have more opportunity for advancement and more opportunity to attend college than most white people. Look at the scholarships available today, most are for minorities or gays. I am not holding the Black Man down, I do not owe anybody anything. There is no free lunch, go out and work and make yourself better. Don't expect me to help, but I won't stand in your way neither.

Answer 2

I support your anti-racist views and I understand the evils of slavery. I think you are right to ask for some kind of apology. The slave trade was (and still is) totally wrong and inhuman. Most sane and reasonable should agree about that. I have no idea if any of my ancestors were involved in the trade, but I'm genuinely sorry that the slave trade happened.

As a general statement, do white people owe black people anything? If you mean financial, then no, I don't think so. If we just take the UK and British Empire. The world view was different at the time, with Africans very firmly at the base of the hierarchy. If compensation was going, yes, the Africans would be the first in line. After that though, who would be next? Many thousands of white people, British subjects were sold into a form of slavery called indentured servitude. This happen to people in debt or even prisoners of war during the English civil war. So, are their descendants to be traced and compensated? What about the treatment of the Irish Catholics, the million and a half that died during the Great Potato Famine of the 1840s, and the other million or so that was forced to emigrate? What about the Highland Clearances? Then let’s take the rest of the Empire into consideration. India and Pakistan? Palestine and Israel?

The point is, not where compensation starts. Where does it end? The British Empire did many ugly things to both its own people and to people from all around the world.

The duty of people is to realise that we are here, now. Let's do what we can to alleviate poverty and environmental degradation on this very small planet of ours. The sooner everybody realises that there is only one race: the human race, the better off we all shall be.

Answer 3

This was on the news about a black man wants an apology from the government for slavery going back over 300 yrs ago come on man catch a grip, why don't the black people put it past, I'm not a racist never have been but the crying has to stop from the black people,

Answer 4

The only thing owed is respect, if a person is an equal then so be it. When with the USAF my secretary was black and damned good at her job, I knew all the guys in the postal service and mostly they were good. I had Asians that were useless and others were good and some real pain in the butt whites.
Therefore who ever you are it is not color that is the problem. Yes locations have problems ie Ethiopia etc. but there is nothing to prevent a person in any location to equate to a person of another color.
There are however severe religeous problems, and often cultural ones as well.
The guys who dealt with slavery are dead, so are the slaves. The germans who murdered the Jews are basically dead, get on with today and try to overcome chips of our forefathers.
Yes there are some bigots, but if YOU accept the way of life in the country you are in you have no problems.
The problems occur when you have situations like face covering in an open face area, bandages on heads in a hatless country.
I wear a kilt here in France and have to accept the humour that it generates occaisionnally even though a kilt is Breton national dress, but if it were to be excessively out of acceptance then the form of dress would create name calling, fun poking, or in otherwords engender a form of racsism.
That would be my fault, why? Because I had failed to conform to local acceptable behaviour, even though the other person SHOULD accept my, to them eccentric behaviour.

Answer 5

Wow!! you certainly got people stirred up, and this is the real problem when we talk about race and racism. I can understand your meaning, but I would not like to put MYSELF in the situation, to say that white people owed me something. I think that we have to accept that there are still barriers, but not just for black people, there are many races that are looked upon in negative light (currently muslims), and have suffered greatly in the past too. It is also part of history.It should be something we learn from, to develop ourselves(ALL), as better people. Even more reason to do for the self. I live in a predominately white country, and sometimes it is hard, and of course there has to be one idiot, but I just be me and I strive to do my best. It gives me MORE power to get what I want. And I have, and continue to do so. Can't be bothered living in the past, it slows you down, and I am also not bothered to discuss with people who do not really want the knowledge, or to know my culture. It is better to make knowledge MY tool instead. I do not want to live with that kind of shadow over me. I could NEVER progress. I think this whole issue is one that will never be resolved, because ALL parties have to be willing to own it first, then make positive steps forward. Maybe then, it will become less of an issue, and then, we can focus on what is important instead...

Answer 6

White people don't owe black people anything. They get more handouts nowadays than white people. I should not have to pay for something my ancestors may or may not have been involved with that was COMPLETELY LEGAL at the time. You can't undo past wrongs by punishing people who had nothing to do with it and rewarding people who have not been affected by it.

Also, hate to break it to you, but virtually EVERY race or religion is discriminated against or has been at some point, they just don't all want free hadnouts from it.

Answer 7

Maybe you should go back to school and study history and math. This country isn't even 400 yrs. old. Think....1776 to 2006 is 230, not 400. Before that, there was slavery and racism all over the world. Egyptians were slave owners. Look at the middle east today. Iran, Iraq, and Palestine all want Jews wiped out. So it ain't just the white man. (Sorry if I'm rambling).
Instead of standing there with your hand out asking for money, finish your education, go get a job, and join the rest of civilization by being a productive citizen.

Answer 8

Not all black people do drugs and are in gangs, and not all white people are racist pricks either. Stereo types such as these are the reasons racism continues. It is a prejudiced remark to say that white people are racist. And who is to say that the black guy named thomas doesn't like his name. And if he doesn't well get a name change or insist on being called something else. After all these years the only thing owed to anyone is tolerance.

Answer 9

I have come to find out that the older generation of black people that were alive during the times that they couldn't eat with whites or drink out of the same water fountains do not seem to hold a grudge towards white people. They are some of the most kind-hearted people you will ever meet. Although, the younger generation that has always had rights and never been discriminated against are the ones that want to blame white people who were not even born in that time either. My theory on this is the black history month and all of the crap they are hearing in history class just elevates the hatred towards the white race and society should just quit making a big deal out of it because it's OVER AND DONE WITH and nobody can change the past so just GET OVER IT!

Answer 10

white people dont really owe black people anything. slavery was abolished 200 years ago and theres not much elsewhite people can do- there is afirmative action in the US but it still does'nt really help considering there are a lot of black people , as you said, "suffering the effects" buy not of slavery of racism. the only thing that white people can do is not be racist which is apparently beyond many white people.