Do white people who did not come from slave owning ancestors owe black people an apology for slavery?

Question

Seems that some black people think so. I don't get it though. If you were in no way involved in slavery ownership, PERIOD, except for the color of your skin, reaping ZERO benefits from the slave labor, how is it that you would owe black people who were or were not the decendents of the VERY LONG dead and buried slaces?

God as my witness, it makes NO sense to me at all, NONE.

I am serious and would love to hear from the black audience.

Here is the article that prompted my question:
http://www.yahoo.com/s/495661

Answer 1

Since I never owned a slave, I don't owe any blacks any apologies. On the other hand, I'd like to know when we're going to be paid back for all the welfare handouts, food stamps, section 8 housing, affirmative action, college quotas, SSI, HUD housing, Temporary Assistance to Needy Families, the Earned Income Tax Credit, Medicaid, Food Stamps, child nutrition programs. and free medical they've been getting for generations?

(I know some little Brainiac is going to chime in here and throw in the disingenuous argument that blacks don't collect as much welfare as whites, but since blacks are currently only 13% of the population and collect almost half of the pie, it's clear that they account for a disproportionate piece of the welfare pie.)

Answer 2

The only people who owe either apology or restitution are those who have profited from slavery. Most are now dead, but the problem still exists relative to Sudan area, and also the sex slavery problem everywhere, and the child/orphan slavery problems in Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Indonesia and some lesser known places. Most everyone now alive has ancestors who were slaves or members of the family tree who were slaves and left no progeny, perhaps dying in this dire condition. This includes all races. Since most people now living are innocent of this abuse, it would be unconscionable to penalize them. Everyone should work hard and get ahead based on their own efforts, not look for a free ride from questionable legal suits. This does not mean that the courts should not continue to award just (not excessive) compensation relative to current matters.

Answer 3

No they do not. My family has a history of house builders. They built cheap homes for families who could not afford nice homes. These homes were sub-standard. Building codes were nonexistent then. Much of the money I have came from their company. The homes did not last and were eventually torn down. Do I owe these people money? No I do not. I had nothing to do with what my forefathers did. The people that bought these homes are dead now. The Slaves are dead now. We owe the families nothing. If former slaves were still alive then maybe.

Answer 4

I'm black, and I agree with you. Nobody owes anybody an apology for the slavery that occured in America.

Someone in my family a long time ago was brought to Cuba on a Spanish or Portuguese slave ship -- but nobody from Spain or Portugal owes me an apology either.

.

Answer 5

I agree --- people today should get over it. What happened 150 years ago is relivant to know, but for me to owe and appology ? NO! My ancestors came to the United States in the late 1800's and early 1900's. None of them owed any slaves every. To think that I shoul dappologize for what someone else's ancestors did is insane. I will appologize for what I have done and what I do but I make no appologies for what others have done or continue to do. People have got to stare being responsible for themselves and stop making excuses why they are in the situation they are in. Colin Powel is a black American and rose to be Secretary of State after having been Chairman of the Joint Chiefs. He is a perfect example of what people can do when they are responsible for themself. Nobody held his hand and told General Powel that he needed to feel sorry for what happened in the past. Now, if their is someone who comes folward who is 150 years old and born the son or daughter of a slave, then they may deserve an appology from the USA in general, but short of that happening, people must stop wallowing in self pity and start taking the reigns of responsibility. Only then will we be truely equal.

Answer 6

I don't think they owe an apology. But if they want is so much and it would make them feel better, redignified, why not.
The only reason why they won't is pride. But after all, it was a wrong thing to do and the state was responsible for it. Saying sorry is easy if that's all they want.
It is like pretty much admitting there was a mistake committed in the past, which is true.

Answer 7

Only white people made the laws of that time. So although they may not have owned slaves, their hands are still tainted. there was no way that the whites in those times didn't prosper from slavery. from the foodstuffs to the monuments, everything was touched by slavery. Without the slaves there would be no USA. Just sit and think about it. who worked on the rr, coal mines, cotton fields you name it, ***** slaves. instead of an apology, i would accept a Thank you.

Answer 8

Thanks for the article; it was interesting.

I can understand your point. On a certain level, you are right: no one alive today was a slave and no one alive today was a slave owner. However, it goes much deeper than that. Have you any idea just how much this country has benefited from slave labor. Have you any idea the enormous problems that were created when slaves were freed but were denied the right to be U.S. citizens.

It is my belief that there should be a formal apology for slavery and also for the 100+ years of oppression that occurred after slavery. This apology should not only be give to blacks but it should be given to all American people because it has affected us all. Because of what happened in the past, we have all kinds of deep-rooted hatred and resentment on all sides. We are a nation divided because of how this country treated blacks.

If you are a white man, I don't think that you personally are obligated to give me an apology. This needs to come from the government. Our government allowed these things to happen. The government in the lifetime of many alive today denied them rights in the last century. People are hurt and emotionally wounded from being told to "get over it." How can people get over something when in so many towns across America, they are reminded of how they are hated. If the racism on this site alone is any indication of what people encounter, no wonder blacks in general simply can't get over it. This is a psychological issue that the government needs to address and it needs to stop trying to evade it...

...or do they not want to bring up the utterly shamful acts that were done to make this the greatest nation in the world.

Answer 9

no everyone has been oppressed at some point in world history and like you said my ancestors came here on a boat to new york or came from ohio. the ohioans where shawnee and the new yorkers where irish and wre too poor to even conciter a slave and besides nobody liked the irish either. me and my people had nothing to do with it.

Answer 10

Noone who is alive today owes anyone an apology for slavery. They had nothing to do with it, and no black people who are alive today were slaves.