Should monetary reparations be paid to African-Americans?

Question

Now, I know most of you are going to say, "It wasn't me that did it! It was my great grandfather!" or something similar. You should think about this. You, YOU, are still benefiting from the slavery while you are living in the United Snakes of Amerikkka. Whether you like it or not, you are going to pay for it.

The blood stains are on your hands.

Answer 1

We paid reparations to black America two-fold.

First, we paid in the blood of hundreds of thousands of young men (and a few woman) who fought and died in our civil war, God's justice unfolding.

Second, we paid in the creation of the country Liberia (look it up), which was purchased and founded by Christian abolitionists. When the war was over, they offered a FREE ticket to any black person in this country who wanted to return to 'Mother Africa' and thousands took them up on the offer.

So what you have left today is the ancestors of black people who CHOSE, oh dear, let me say that again, CHOSE to remain here in America, making them no different than any other immigrant group in history.

Answer 2

Armygal above the civil war was not only about abolition, although it played a significant role, personally I am grateful for all Americans (white and black) who have come before me and have given to make my life so comfortable right now ( by comparison that is).

Now, that being said, it is true that White Americana are able to pass wealth down through generations and still do to this day, hugely due to the free labor of the African slaves. Are monetary reparations the solution, I don't think so. But I do think that inclusion, fairness, and ethical behavior is the beginning of a real solution.

If part of the abolition process was the forty acres and a mule then that would have been a better start for the slaves, and possibly been a better way to handle it. Just nip the point of what they were due in the bud in the first place.

The Liberia thing did happen but, I wouldn't have wanted to return to a land that I knew nothing about and by ship? hmm, and I would have been extremely suspicious as well.

Sometimes it's funny when people speak about America as if it's theirs exclusively.

Answer 3

I definitely think we should make reparation to those who were made to legally live in slavery in America. Unfortunately, all of those people are dead now, so I'm not sure how money is going to do them any good at this point. If you are speaking of giving money to people who's ancestors were slaves, then I would have to say that sounds good to me. Considering the fact that women were legally considered the property of their male relatives and husbands up until just recently and were given no more rights than slaves, that means that I should be due some money, since I just happen to be a woman.

I hope you can see the can of worms that we would be opening by setting such a precedence. Sometimes a heartfelt apology and a pledge to do better is the only sane or realistic thing to do in such a situation as this. After all, a good majority of black Americans have quite a bit of Caucasian ancestry. Does this mean that the part of them that is Caucasian should be held responsible for the slavery that their black ancestors had to endure. The past is the past! Let it go and worry about wiping out the underground, illegal slavery that is becoming quite rampant in our country and in others.

Answer 4

First of all, have a look at my avatar. That's pretty much what I look like. Especially the skin color.

So what's with this "you, YOU" business?

Second, if you're going to get payments for slavery from someone, get it from the Spanish and the Portuguese and the British. They're the ones who brought slaves to this part of the world.

"It was my great-grandfather" isn't even historically accurate.

That's because most white Americans' ancestors came to America AFTER slavery had been abolished for nearly 30 years.

Even if I -- a black-hispanic woman descended from slaves brought to Cuba by the Spanish -- were eligible for "slavery reparations," I wouldn't claim them.

I wouldn't take money away from people who had nothing to do with slavery, nor would I seek to benefit from something that never affected me personally.

"Slavery reparations" isn't even all that popular with African-Americans, actually -- not as popular as you might think.

It seems more like a "white liberal guilt" thing to me, more than anything else.

Accepting "reparations" for something that we never suffered -- now that would be the absolute WORST form of race-card playing.

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Answer 5

This question shouldn't be diginifed with an awnser because of the threatening tone and narrowsighted manner of the question. There are so few people living in america today that are direct descendants of slave owners the idea of reparations is silly. Most people are immigrants from europe, asia, south america, etc... and have no reason to feel responsible for slavery in any way. My family came to the US in the early 1900's... would you consider us culpable for slavery? And who exactly would pay the reparations? the US gov't right? So basicaly everyone who pays taxes will be funding the reparations; Its an idiotic idea.
Basicaly you've used this forum to act like you have a question, then launch into ignornant hatespeech. In the future why don't you think for yourself rather than regurgitate what you are force fed by hatemongers.

Answer 6

Why? My ancestors were mill workers and coal miners they never owned anybody. I am not paying a dime. The blacks that want reparations are just using the victim role and are sadly disillusioned that they are being held down instead of going to school and working hard like the rest of us. All they are doing is further dividing us.

When you say "Whether you like it or not, you are going to pay for it," I already do with my tax dollars supporting public assistance programs. Before you say more white people are on welfare look at the percentage of blacks and the percentage of whites. Besides if most of the people whining for another government check did get one it would probably just go for a new set of rims instead of something useful like tuition.

Answer 7

sure, as soon as the italians and the Spaniards(Columbus was italian) pay Puerto Rico for eradicating or nearly eradicating the Puerto Ricans from the Island. I dont' understand that reparations nonsense, but I do know that the jews got compensation for the Haulocaust, dont' know how many, but hey.

alot of corporations have made ammends with this by contributing to the AA community becuase they've admitted to having their hand in the slave trade as well, so no need for it.

if every conquered people were to be compensated, I don't think it would help any because we are here for a reason, now just leave it rest

Answer 8

Well, white Americans who are living now are not responsible for slavery, but I think that there should be a serious effort done in America to gain real equality for blacks and whites and from all I know the reality is now far from that. I don't know if that could be called reparations, but given that on average whites are better off than blacks in America now it would mean that on average whites would have to do more for this goal regarding the financial aspect, but I am not speaking now about those whites who are poor.

I say this from outside, I am not American.

Answer 9

Oh f*ck you, ignorant self-serving b*stard. From you're picture, you don't look black, and so don't even pretend to be holier than thou to us. If the US was going to give black people money to repay their time as slaves, we would have to have done it already. At this point, there is no way to prove who had slaves, where those slave owners families are now, how much they would owe, and to whom that money would go to.


The blood is not on my hands. I know for a fact that my family never had any slaves (my mom's side was origianlly Quaker and my dad's came to America to flee the Holocaust). Even if I was a southern tobacco farmer, I wouldn't owe any one for slavery. It was legal at the time as long as the Europeans where bringing them we were gonna take them. If you want to repay the balck people, it can be your job to search ever black perosn in America's family background and see if they had any slaves in their family tree, then see how much they should be refunded, and then see who should repay them. If anyone owes black people anything, it's people like you who seem to think that this would not cause major law suites from non-black people who need to pay for a moral predicament they never where in. And don't even try to tell me there wouldn't be fueds in the Afircan American community over who got how much. You can't jsut hand every black person a 50 dollar bill, it wouldn't work. Some would argue that they deserve more than others.



Ultimately, it doesn';t matter. When Slaves were officially considered illegal, that was the time to figure out a payment plan. They didn't and they now can't. I'm sorry for anyone who was a slave (not that there are any left legally), but this is just rediculous.

Answer 10

for what?? for your ancestors neighbours selling them into slavery? Or perhaps for what a handful of people no longer alivedid to others 300 years ago. in that case, I want reparation from the British for what they did in Ireland 300 years ago, After all, I'm mostly Irish. in fact, I'd bet there is more Irish in me than there is African in you.