Is it appropriate for the Western Powers to compensate Africa for the Slave Trade, if yes/no why?

Answer 1

Hell no. How many Africans sold other tribes members to the slave traders?

Answer 2

First, there is not a single former slave alive today. If there were they would certainly be due just compensation for their labor, but the ancestors of atrocities do not deserve compensation in any way. As a precedent for this point of view, from the last century, let us look at how the compensation of slave labor during the holocaust of World War II has been handled. The thousands of people that survived that inequity are being compensated by both the government of Germany and by the companies that gained from their forced labor, and rightfully so. But their children have no inherited right to collect for the uncompensated labor of their parents. Certainly the grandchildren and great grandchildren of American slaves never experienced the appalling life of slavery, and therefore, like the children of Jews and others enslaved in Germany 50 years ago, they have no claim for themselves.

Secondly, blacks do not have a monopoly on living in poverty in this country. According to the latest census data approximately 30 percent of blacks and whites live in poverty. Hispanics unfortunately have an even higher percentage living below the poverty line. All this current day poverty can not be attributed to a disgusting institution that was ended 150 years ago. It can however be attributed to present day governmental policy. There should be a monumental effort made by the government, at all levels, to get all Americans out of poverty, but a policy centered on only one race is just as wrong as slavery was.

Thirdly, slavery could not have existed without the complicity of black Africans who supplied most of the unfortunate humans that were sold into this dreadful condition. It was not just whites that kept this retched institution going for over 200 years. In addition, there were over 200,000 white Americans that paid the ultimate retribution during the Civil War, when they gave their lives to end slavery. The reparation debt owed to slaves was paid a long time ago when the North won the Civil War and freed them.

Answer 3

With regard to the US: NO. Slavery predates the Egyptians and little was done through out history to abolish it. Then in 1776 America was formed around a few basic truths "that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed, by their CREATOR, with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness." Slavery was at odds with this idea which was one of the contributing factors to the civil war. Over 600,000 Americans died in that war. Did they all die to free the slaves? Not really, they died to preserve a constitution that ensured the freedom of all men including the slaves. This was one of the first major actions of this new nation and it lead to the abolishment of slavery globally. People talk of reparation as if America invented slavery. To the contrary, the US constitution ended the slave trade at the cost of many American lives. Conversely, I'd suggest that those who seek reparation today are actually indebted to the Americans who died to emancipate thier ancestors and to the system of government that ended the slave trade.

Answer 4

No.
Africa practiced slavery on its own people, so why should we be forced to compensate them if they don't compensate themselves. That is ridiculous.
Plus, I believe the statute of limitations should be in effect on this one. It was a long time ago. Get over it.
Just like we should not compensate black Americans because we oppressed them and enslaved them in the 1800s and 1900s. Over 600,000 men died to end slavery and we have spent the last 50 years reforming our government to be more fair to minority races.
Dues paid in full.

Answer 5

No. Absolutely not. Dig a little deeper as to who helped perpetuate the slave trade and you'll find it was fellow Africans. Think Darwinism then capitalism.

Answer 6

It certainly appropriate to compensate the african continent for atrocities commited the west.

It is also incumbent on the African slave traders of the day to compensate the people they savaged.

It is not appropriate to just say "sorry". There is much work to be done to bring the people out of the dark ages into the light and give them common humanity.

Answer 7

No. Nobody alive today suffered damages as a consequential result of the slave trade.

Answer 8

NO. ALL THE SLAVE TRADE WAS POSSIBLE BECAUSE TRIBES ON THE CONTINENT AT THEY TIME WERE PROVIDING THE SLAVES TO THE BUYERS. IT WAS A HOMEGROWN INDUSTRY IN AFRICA FUELED BY TRIBAL CONFLICTS. OF COURSE MOST FOLKS THAT ARE ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE ARGUMENT CONVENIENTLY FORGET THAT FACT. THAT DOESNT ABSOLVE THE SLAVERS BUT BOTH WORKED HAND IN HAND FOR CASH.
CURSE THEM BOTH.

Answer 9

if there was compensation i would think it'd go to actual individuals, not the countries they were from.