Is it racist to ask about slavery?

Question

And about regional variations in cultures decending from slavery? i.e differences beween the modern day African person and a modern day Afro-Caribbean person

Answer 1

It's not racist to ask - and it's an area many black people have a great interest in.

Perhaps the racist (or at least slightly ignorant) thing was when you talked in an earlier question about Jamaicans not "sounding African" - as if all Africans sound the same (do all Europeans sound the same)?

I don't believe squinting has greatly affected the Australian accent - it was formed by the accents of the main migrant groups there, which didn't have the same cultural make-up as England does today. Even in England, people don't talk the same as they did a couple of hundred years ago.

Similarly, today's Jamaican accent started off being influenced by specific tribal accents, then was presumably modified by the accents of those who taught them English (and the fact that French and Spanish were also widely spoken in the region), and on top of that has evolved for a couple of centuries on its own. All of that leads to the accent you hear today.

Answer 2

No, I do not believe it is. We can not judge past events by our modern day standards. There has always been some sort of slavery in the world. We can not change that. Far better to discus and understand what happened and then to learn from the mistakes. it would be a poorer world if we couldn't ask questions, that to some are uncomfortable.

Answer 3

It is not racist to ask questions about slavery.

Here in England we will this year, 2007, celebrate the 200th anniversary of the abolition of slavery in the British Empire.

In the year 1807 the Anti-Slavery Bill by William Wilberforce was passed in the House of Commons. This effectively outlawed slavery in the Brit Empire but was not fully ratified until c1830.

While one of us is a slave, so are we all slaves.

Answer 4

How can it be racist, when the only way to learn is to ask questions? From our knowledge of the past comes insight into present consequences of our actions. To want to learn more about other people and their cultures, surely cannot be classed as an insult, which is what racism is. In fact I would say it's more of a compliment. Acquire knowledge and grow in wisdom would seem like a sound maxim to me.

Answer 5

I can't see how this can be racist. The differences you're talking about would be cultural rather than racial. The difference between a german and frenchman are due to various cultrural, political and economic influences which change with region and time. Racial categories have often been used uncritically to shorthand these differences.

Answer 6

No it is not racists to ask questions about different cultures ,but it is when you use it as a crutch and blame the world for your OWN failures !We all have the same options in life and it is our choice on which one to choose because you can not blame the world for something that happened a 100 years ago !!!!!

Answer 7

I don't think it is racist to ask about slavery, however, one must be sensitive to people in different situations and who have had different experiences and may be sensitive towards the topic. So it not what you ask but how you ask it, why not just ask a teacher or professor specialised in that field, offence taken there is unlikely

Answer 8

no its not i actually enjoy a decent conversation about it, and your opinion is yours to have. and if your are just trying to get facts or details on some things whats the harm. how ever you do run across those people that carry the chip on the shoulder as if they where in slaved or the even know a friend or relative how was so just be careful how you ask and watch for their boundaries.

Answer 9

If it's racist to ask a serious question or mention facts, then the situation must be some sort of cover up.

Answer 10

Depends on whom you are asking and what the questions are. If you are seeking answers from an insecure person, they might think you are nosy. A historian, of course, would like to answer. Be sensitive about this.