My ancestors were slave-holders. How should I react?

Question

I am always hearing white people in America mention that none of their ancestors held slaves. Well, I am white and some of mine did (on one of my grandparent's side. the rest didn't - were recent immigrants etc.). Should this knowledge affect me in any way? As a white person in America, I have received privileges related to the slave trade regardless of whether I have actual ancestors who participated as slave masters. The direct monetary privileges that I have received came from my father, who was a doctor, but his family's history never contained any slaveholders. It is from my mother's side, and she was a stay-at-home mother who never supported us monetarily. I believe that all of us have ancestors that did horrible things. I believe that most of us probably have *somewhere* down the line some ancestors who were rapists, murderers, and other things. Should the fact that I have American ancestors who were slave holders make a significant difference in my outlook or attitude?

Answer 1

Be Proud. Your ancestors have helped a people who were living in the stone age, who if left to their own devices would still be living like they had for thousands of years and most all of them living in Africa now still are! Those that aren't are only doing so with the infrastructure that they have taken, sometimes by force, from the White people who put it in place. The American slaves were captured by their own "black brothers" and sold! The American black thinks that they are the first and only people to be slaves. The Romans, the Egyptians, and many, many more cultures had slaves and I hear of no one but black Americans asking for apologies and reparations! The black Americans should really have a "Thank The White Man" day to express their gratitude for bringing them out of the stone age and out of the wild violent and disease-ridden African continent. There has been but a SMALL handful of blacks who have made a REAL contribution to the world. The vast majority have to have the help , leadership, and guidance of another race in order not to degrade back into the former mindset that they left in the wilds of Africa. You can see this happening all over the U.S. It happens when whites move to the suburbs and blacks take over the city. You can see it in public housing, built by Whites for blacks, that are destroyed and made unlivable by the "jungle" mentality that creeps back into the black society. blacks as a whole cannot govern, lead or support themselves without superior intervention. Yes the White American taxpayer is getting shafted by having to take care of them, but we did bring them here, so unless we take a stand against affirmative action, the Congressional black Caucus, and minority placement just BECAUSE they are black; we will forever be hindered and afraid to say " Stand on your merits not your skin color" So be PROUD your forefathers have helped them attain a far better life than they could have EVER had in Africa, but at the same time be aware that they have contributed NOTHING but labor to the U.S. and had our forefathers been able to see into the future they would have NEVER brought them here in the first place! By the way, my ancestors were slave owners.

Answer 2

A lot of the slave holders you read about are depicted as being evil bas*ards. But not all were.

Some were actually quite good to their slaves. In fact some were instrumental in helping slaves escape.

Do you know what sort of slave holders your family was? I suggest you find out. That will help ease your conscience on whether that makes you look like a bad person.

If for arguments sake your ancestors were evil slave holders, you shouldn't let that be the deciding factor as to what sort of person you are or how other people see you.

My great great grandfather was a convict on the first fleet of ships that arrived in Australia.

Convicts are people who have committed a crime. I have never committed a crime. I am however proud of the fact that one of my ancestors was a convict. Because Australia was built up by convicts.

At the time that transportation to Australia was considered a suitable punishment for criminals, a lot of the crimes that were committed were not done so because the criminal was evil. The crimes were committed because the person was trying to find a way to survive.

Like I said earlier. Do some research into your family history to find out what part they played in the history of America. And when you find out be proud that your family had something (good or bad) to do with making America the country it is today.

Happy Research.

Answer 3

You're right, alot of people probably do have such ancestors. I wouldn't know I have never done the research. However, coming from European immigrants, I probably have ancestors that were indentured servants. George Washington the first president of the U.S. employed slaves in his tobacco fields. You are a seperate individual. Many white people fought for the abolishion of slavery. You may be related to some of them, as well.

Answer 4

I am sure in those days, not ever "White" Americans were slave owners. I believe about 15% of them were... Also, they are not the only ones who contributed to slavery. Some of the Africans tricked and betrayed their people for capture. So they helped with slavery as well... *sigh* Okay, if you want me to give you a specific answer, Supreme Intellect summed it up perfectly. Since some "Black" Americans share the same ancestors with "White" Americans, I think we should have a huge reunion. We all are in fact family ;)

Answer 5

With all due respect ,you seem intelligent enough to know the answer to this question.

I will say however if you are a spiritual person you could offer up a prayer or two apologizing not only your slave holding ancestors but also a prayer for the slaves he "owned" as well.

I do not accept the excuse/argument; "well it was common practice in commerce during that time".

I am glad to see that many have apologized their error of their ways; e.g. many Christian denominations and other American institutions.

In conclusion you didn't personally enslave anyone..so you have not created that type of karma or burden for yourself.
I cannot however conversely state however, that Blacks should not feel at least intellectually sadden/angry etc... for their ancestors treatment.

Still, even as we look back and acknowledge the worse of America, it is incumbent that we all as Americans strive to live in an environment of mutual respect and cooperation.

Answer 6

You have never owned a slave or condoned slavery, have you? You are right. In the history of civilization, every one of us can find something in our family's lineage that we are not proud of. You are not responsible for their actions. And even if you HAD received a family fortune from a side of the family that happened to have had slaves, it is unlikely that after this many generations your dollars could actually be traced to the profits from slavery. EVEN IF YOU COULD... your family did the right thing and their slaves were freed. What I'm saying, is that in the best case scenario, you are not responsible or under any obligation. And in the worst case scenario, you would still not be responsible for the actions of people who died 100 years ago, and you are still under no obligation.

Answer 7

Best you can do is treat all people with kindness and justice, everywhere.
Do whatever you can to overcome racism in yourself, speak out against injustice and ignorance, and put your resources where your ideals are.
Someone said, provide full scholarships for 4 black kids to college. Things like this would be good to do for one who has the means, but not many of us do. However, one who lives in a large city can do things like volunteer at a school where there are a lot of black kids, volunteer to help with elderly black people, voluntter at the food bank, help thru big brothers/ big sisters, donate to the UNCF or similar organiztion, whatever one is able to do by way of time, talents, and material resources. These are good things to do anyway, whether you're helping black people, white people, red or yellow or purple people. Doing things like this helps connect us with one another as humans, and that's more important than any ways we are different from each other.

Answer 8

I to am a descendant of slave owners. I agree with dash riprock. I want my reparations from the government for taking our property. I also want the descendants of our slaves to pay me my percentage for their excellent breeding that lead to them being professional athletes. Lots are running around with our last name.

I know it would be easy to prove they are all related too because we only had 1 stud buck on the entire plantation. the rest were altered.

Answer 9

Do not react! Their lives are far better than they would ever have been in Africa! You and I owe them NOTHING! They owe us a great deal! They owe us an apology for shooting the goose who lays the golden egg. All they have is because of our efforts.
After all the Affirmative Action, food stamps, welfare, daycare, free public schools, free lunches, HUD housing, preferential treatments out the wazoo, and look at where the majority of them are today!
Still on the bottom of the pile where they belong. Don't throw pearls before swine!

Answer 10

Slavery existed in alot of the world at one time. History is filled of many cultures and soceities that practiced slavery. So slavery isnt just something confined to just American History.Why should I feel apologetic for something I had nothing to do with? My racial heritage is a mix of 3 races that formed one country, there were slaves involved in my history.....as utterly sickening slavery was, its a part of history whether or not I like it.