Why do people think that black people should be paid reparations?

Question

Why should they get money they didn't earn for pain that they didn't suffer? (By the way, they aren't the only race in the history of mankind to ever have been enslaved, in case anyone didn't know that.)

Furthermore I would think that it would be a slap in the face to even suggest that any ammount of money could ever make up for what black people have gone through through the course of history in this country. Call me a racist all you want, but I've spoken my peace and if you don't believe that I'm not a racist that's on you.

Answer 1

Good point, since you agree with that then you would have to agree with this. Why should whites or and others benefit from the pain and suffering their ancestors cause?

"By the way, they aren't the only race in the history of mankind to ever have been enslaved, in case anyone didn't know that."

So with that comment makes it sounds as if your justifying it by saying because others were allow to do it. So can I kill you and go unpunished because others kill all the time? Of course not, But your last comments clearly shows you support such actions.

Black people don't think they should get reparations, ask and "Black" person and they will ALL agree. They have learn to NEVER ever trust in "white people" their own history proves it. No white person live 400 years so that means that not all white people were slave owners. Thus the oppression of blacks was not limited to white slave owners but to Policeman, Government, society. Like X said:


" The white man is against brotherhood and the white man is against peace, his history proves this. No where in history has he been brotherly toward anyone. The only time he is brotherly is when he can use you, oppress you, exploit you, when you will summit to him."....."And when black -- now, the masses of black people can see this. And it is only the ***** leadership, the bourgeois, hand-picked handful of Negroes who think that they're going to get some kind of respect, recognition, or protection from the government. The government is responsible for what is happening to black people in this country. The president has power; you notice he didn't send any troops into Birmingham to protect the Negroes when the dogs were biting the Negroes. The only time he sent troops into Birmingham was when the Negroes erupted, and then the president sent troops in there, not to protect the Negroes, but to protect them white people down there from those erupting Negroes."


Sad but true most blacks think this about most whites.

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

"(By the way, they aren't the only race in the history of mankind to ever have been enslaved, in case anyone didn't know that.)"
Ya thats right, but name the races that have been enslaved in AMERICA. Only blacks have been enslaved for the hell of it. The other races were enslaved because a crime they commited. Ya i didnt suffer but my great great grandfather and mother did and they didnt get nothing out of it. The government is just trying to give back, so the blacks will stop blaming the government of there problems.

Answer 4

Every race has been enslaved at one time or another look at the romans in gladiator they were from all over the place. Why do they think they deserve money because of what happened to their ancestors? Because of what happened to their ancestors. If everybody wanted things that happened between long dead generations paid to them in money for their ancestors suffering their would be alot more than just them though. It's sad really we've got to pay up for our evil ancestors crimes. I'm in the UK and we don't have that whole white/black civil rights tension thing here.

Answer 5

They would like reparations as a race who was enslaved. This is to pay back the race as a whole. But then what about the Native Americans whose land was stolen, women raped, books burned, forced to learn another language, and to learn another religion. My heart goes out for many, but there is no justification for any of it. What's done is done and even though we are descendents of those whom have suffered doesn't mean we still can't feel it. But that doesn't mean I'm asking for money. Just respect.

Answer 6

Who should we hold responsible for Jim Crow laws - laws that made it okay to humiliate blacks by denying them constitutional rights? My parents and people of that age suffered the pain and humiliation of Jim Crow. Whom should we hold responsible for the lynching, the burnings, etc? We don’t need to go as far back as slavery to find just cause for justice.

Now, reparations would cause more harm to all of America that it would good. It would cause even more bitterness and hatred toward blacks than already exist today. It will even cause a riff in with blacks as some will have and some will have not. Yes, blacks should have been compensated for slavery way back when it ended. Yes, blacks should have been compensated for Jim Crow when it ended. They were both most terrible and horrible times for blacks while others benefited by humiliating blacks. We should all acknowledge that fact and then work towards a harmonious future. Harmony is not going to come if old wounds aren’t healed. Reparation is not going to heal wounds; it will cause new wounds.

On a personal level, sure I’d like to receive a lump sum for the years my ancestors spent in slavery; who would want to receive money. However, for the benefit of America, I’m not going to demand it. My effort can be better spent by helping to build up my community and to educate the ignorant than fighting for a cause that would further divide us.

Answer 7

I know this won't happend but people who think like the asker should read more. The asker is benfitting from those black people of past. Black slaved labor lead to many white advantages today. 700,000 African dead in the Atlantic for you! History shows that only white people inslaved in this form were murder, rape, mutilation, starvation, and destruction to self/family which has effected black people's and even today.

Easy for white people feel nothing because if it wasn't for African's becoming slaves they wouldn't have this lifestyle today. Muslims before America history was planning to wipe white/Europe of the map. Moorish People protected Europe from those attacks, 700+ years. The greatist lie ever told is columbus discovery. Read Ivan van Sertma, Gerald Massy, step away from white parroted authors and read Dr. Ben, Chancler, Dr. Clark, Many black schalors turn the stones over and research the past to bring forth truth but this good American life the asker is enjoying gives him no need to read the truth or understand facts.

Most white's here won't complete my answer because of denial. Don't need to know and don't wan't to know. If your white living this good American life you should know what those millions of Africans turned slaves have given you. It's reported the death count begins at 50 million! Sure can't believed that, huh. That's your problem! Atleast the jews didn't suffer 400 years under Hitler and they had a chance at economic because they wasn't delivered to a world of this type of hell without modern education by the way African's were stripped from education, my point. Jews got payment back and had different modern betterment then Blacks. Since people need to compare.

Personaly I wouldn't hand over money in this form eighter but I would give reparation in many other forms to the communities in better education public or private. I feel reparations should go in a form that tells a story before MLK through all educations that takes tax dallors pays. Funny thing is when we talk slavery white people speak about the movie Roots and say, "Oh that wasn't to bad." That movie was a LIE! A hollywood lie! It was down right Horrible. White people and/with jewish money brought this about. Spain was broke, England was just dang island germany was ripped who you think financed it? All ya'll go with your daily lives living good in America. Edited

Answer 8

The case is made for it because the country benefited enormously from slave labor, and even after the discontinuation of slavery, blacks still suffered losses in earning ability and wages from inferior education systems, discrimination. There are several institutions in this country whose wealth is based in slave labor, ie banks, universities and other institutions. There are enough records to make a valid case for it.

One reasoning that goes in its favor is this. If one's parent or family member is killed by an accident or wrong doing, their heirs can receive payment for their loss despite that injury not occuring to them personally. If one's boss didn't pay a parent their money, their children would receive it in a settlement. Children can inherit their parents wealth and there is a wealth that remains unpaid and in the hands of those it doesn't belong.

Another is this. Japanese Americans have received reperations for their treatment and interment during WWII. American Indians receive reperations for the losses they incurred from the European invasion in the form of land, tax free businesses etc. Jews have received reperations for the Holocaust.

Actually, there is more of a case for blacks to receive reperations from the discrimination during the Jim Crow era as they didn't receive their full rights as American citizens, suffered discrimination, intimidation and things such as this.

I dont think people can argue that the money isn't there, as the U.S spends money on useless endevors everyday.

There is a case for it, which is why it continues to come up.

The case against it is that by paying, it will be thought that all discrimination there after will not be considered valid because money was paid. Or that it will make race an issue when it has always been one as quiet as it is kept and by some of the more negative comments on the Answers forum.

I understand the question, but I think it is dismissive to say it is pain they didn't suffer. The knowledge that your ancestors were slaves, and that being all that is taught of African history is that they were slaves and MLK freed them and everything is fine, belies that fact. It certainly has influence in the way many act today. It creates an inferiority complex and I think one can understand that. I also think one has to admit that those who had the ability to make wealth from 1492-2007 have an advantage over those who were emancipated in 1865 and discriminated against by "seperate but equal" that was unequal until 1965.

I personally believe any reperations paid should come in the form of educational advancement, as this is where blacks have truly suffered from poorly funded school systems. College scholarships, community centers and truly equal education would be a perfect way to right a wrong.

Answer 9

Black people are not being paid reparations in the United States. Where do you get your information from? Whether it is deserved is another matter entirely and one which cannot be answered here. The question isn't even worthy of an answer, as your motives are suspect at best. If it is to inflame then you have succeeded. If it is to inspire then you have failed.

Answer 10

Is that what is happening in the US. Is the government paying compensation to the black Americans for their ancestors being enslaved.?? I cannot see it as a positive thing for the culture in America. It creates division.