should african-americans recieve reperations? Why?

Answer 1

Nobody living today was a victim of American slavery. Yes, mistakes were made in the past, and they were wholly wrong, but if you start this snowball down the hill, where would it end? I'm of Polish descent, should I get reparations for the German invasion and the Holocaust? Do we have to give Mexico reparations for the land we "acquired" in 1848 as a result of the Mexican War? Should Norway and Sweden be forced to give reparations for the Viking raids of continental Europe in the 10th century? Should the current government of Egypt give reparations to the Jews for enslaving them in Biblical times?

I think we should understand the mistakes of the past, and move on. Try to make today the best it can be, without re-opening old wounds that should be allowed to heal.

Answer 2

No

It would be impossible to figure out who pays and who receives.

Not all black americans are decendants of slaves, and many have immigrated to the US after the civil war (the end of slavery)

Not all non-black americans owned, or had anything to do with slavery. My ancestors came to the US in 1880. Why should I be held responsible. In fact, a very small portion of the whites ever owned slaves, and 99% were in the southern states.

Most of the slaves were brought to the US when the US was still a colony of Britain. We did not have a government until 1786 (about 10 years after the declaration of independance).

Slavery was a very bad thing, and it disgusts me that people were treated in that manner. One cannot however punish everybody for the actions of a few.

Answer 3

The real issue is, should African Americans be paid for being black, looking different than white Americans?

African Americans are not treated any differently than whites because they were slaves; the prejudice is based on color; not history.

Jews were slaves for 3000 years. However, it is not because they were slaves that there is Anti-Semitism; it is due to their religion distinguishing them from Christians.

There were "Indentured Servants," back in the colonial times of our country, and some time thereafter. Once they served out their time paying for their passage to America, they were freed. Except for possibly not dressing too well, since they were poor, I'm sure other white colonists could not tell them apart.

The bottom line is, should America pay people because they are different, and are not always accepted as equals by WASPS?

If so, there is a long list of groups of people who would be deserving of money...

Answer 4

Are you kidding me? Absolutely not. No one should receive reperations. Slavery happened a long time ago and that didn't make them who they are or what they are. They, like any other American can make a choice. Some African Americans have decided to move forward, some haven't but that isn't society's problem. My grandparents were potato farmers in Ireland. My parents decided NOT to be potato farmers in Ireland - so they came to America to make a life for themselves and they have. They are not farmers here in the US either. They are educated and have made informed decisions on the jobs they would accept. Anyone can do that and perservere.

Answer 5

No it would be a great dis-service to them, it is time they looked to themselves like everyone else.

The two civilizations

Before the last 2-3 hundred years different peoples lived different life styles for 10's of thousands of years in different parts of the world due to climate and and food sources. The people of northern Europe had to work and save for the hard winters in order to survive. The people of semi tropical areas did not do this in fact it was not a good idea to have anything as you could be killed for it, because of the lack of written laws. So working and saving was not a part of life for some. This now could be possibly an inherited thing. If this could be proved then some long term consideration may be in order, but lets not keep blaming one thing and then another lets get to the truth of the matter and then proceed.

Answer 6

Oh yes!! If any of them were enslaved before slavery was abolished in this country. I know that some of them had ancestors that were slaves but that does not give them the right to receive payment for that, nor does the US government have the obligation to give them money from the taxpayers (some of the taxpayer's ancestors never owned slaves). All this is is a gimmick to try to finagle money.

Answer 7

Why? What about the 27 million people who are in slavery somewhere on earth today. Maybe they would be happy if they were just free.

Answer 8

Why is this question asked so oftentimes? i did no longer even are conscious of it became into an argument. How do all of us be attentive to who's in charge? Spain traded weapons and silk to Africa in replace for human lives. The people who have been exchanged have been the two war captives or criminals and have been already slaves in Africa! we've greater effective than one team of folk in charge for slavery. Does everybody seem at Africa and say "How could you commerce human lives for a gun and a silk journey?" i'm white, and my kinfolk became into no longer even here whilst slavery existed. humorous sufficient, my husband is a element black and area white. His white ancestors owned slaves and his black ancestors have been slaves. So who could pay the reparations? could he pay them to himself? it would not be achievable(of low-priced) to hint down each slave proprietor via his/her ancestors and it would not be honest to make people who've no longer something to do with it pay for it. ultimately, has everybody alive right this moment ever owned a slave or been a slave? i did no longer think of so. right this moment, looking back, we are able to tell slavery became into no longer a good concept. yet in the process the time-physique it befell, it became into no longer frowned upon. an excellent sort of countries have owned slaves (specific, even Africa!!) and paying reparations could no longer help. the acceptable element we are able to do for humanity is to no longer make an identical mistake two times.

Answer 9

many white people in England, Ireland, Germany and many other country's came to America as bonded servants, why are they not asking for reparations? Africans were slaves of the tribes our ancestors bought them from, therefore they were slaves before they were sold to the whites, where they were treated a hell of a lot better, free passage to America where they were given plenty of food so they didn't haft to eat other humans, clothes so they didn't haft to wait until a lion died to steal his coat, real medical , the best, instead of a witch doctor, they were given decent housing, better than the poor whites had, many were educated and held high positions, I have did 2 terms in Africa and I have seen their living conditions as of today and it is in most cases probable no better than it was 400 years ago, slave quarters are one hell of a lot better believe me, and if you went to Africa today with a ship and asked for volunteers to come to America as slaves there would be so many they would over load the ship and sink it, Reparations??? Reparations for what??? saving their sorry arses?

Answer 10

Reparations for what? Slavery? I don't know a single African-American who has ever been a slave. Do you?