Do African Americans think that slavery and being black is hindering them from prospering?

Question

I may get attacked for saying this, but personally that’s a just an excuse. Discrimination in the work place and current financial problems I go along with. But slavery is out of the question. I am black; I struggled just like every other race has. I’m successful now. I say this all the time DO NOT let your past determine your future. Know your history, learn from it… and don’t make the same mistakes again and again. I don’t want, nor do I expect anything from anyone because of my race. Reparations have to be one of the stupidest things I had ever heard of in my life. Why should I get paid for something my ancestors did? I was not the one suffering, and it’s too late to make up for in now. But we can make it better. They already gave enough to me by dieing for what they believed in, so their decedents can live a great life, and I intend to honor that. Don’t grow up with the mentality that somebody owes you something.

TooCute-
TooCute- I’m not putting anybody else down, if you choose to get offended then do so. I’m being real. Would you rather hear this from a white person? And asking a simple question on yahoo is nothing compared to what we do to each other daily. I'm just trying to let people know how stupid these excuses are. If people keep sulking “Oh, I’m black I can’t go anywhere in life don’t say nothing bad about me I don’t wanna hear the truth” Type of mentality then you wont go nowhere in life… it’s that simple. People like you need a wake up call. I am in no shape or form putting my race down, just because I’m talking to you like a real person with a mind and like you can conceive actual thoughts and being the realist I can right now I’m putting my race down? See that’s the stuff I’m talking about we expect to be treated differently because we’re black. I would apologize for sounding insensitive; I refuse to give unnecessary aid to my fellow black people.

TooCute- I very much so respect your opinion, but when somebody tells me I’m putting my own race down or claims I have my nose up in the air I will feel the need to say something back, but I wont get offended. You can’t judge for this one question I asked because you don’t know my status in life. I congratulate you on your successes, and I’m sorry that you may feel offended because obviously you gave a long rant about my comment as well. Just because I commented back doesn’t mean I’m offended. You said you don’t mind hearing this information from a white person, but when a black person tells their own race there’s something wrong you get upset? It’s like; you would want your girlfriend to tell you your blouse is ugly right? I would take criticism from my own before anybody else because I know they lived a life of a black person. It’s a bad thing when we can’t accept the truth coming from our own mouths. And I’m done “going off the deep end” promise.

Please I beg you stop judging me. Yes I’m only eighteen, but age does not determines ones wisdom… life does. Again you don’t know me or the things I’ve done in my life so that gives no right to make assumptions about me. I apologized for offending you, I respect you and your mindset; that was the womanly thing to do, but still you think I’m naive? And you still have not given me an example of me putting my own men down- telling the truth. Letting others know what I see is down casting my fellow man? When? Let me tell you a few things about myself, so you can have an idea of where I’m coming from. I’m young, headstrong, and intelligent, never smoked, never drank, never been to a club never shake my ***… I had a rough life, just like a lot of people had before; and going through I feel my rough life it’s So What. I don’t dwell on it nor do I blame others for it. I was only trying to open others eyes to their own destructive mindsets; but some will be permanently blind.

And just for you, I am no way, shape, or form a child. I paid my debts. I’m living on my own as a grown woman, and age is nothing but a number. And I never asked you to debate with me, you took upon yourself to answer this question. I washed my hands as well.

Answer 1

Nice. I agree with you for the most part.

But I do realize that slavery and the discrimination that followed has had a very negative economic effect on blacks in America. That isn't very hard to explain. I mean, it's not like blacks were set free and immediately were accepted into society and given equal rights and opportunities...

On the other hand, I don't think anyone owes me anything. I come from a poor family and I'm almost in my third year of college now, trying to get out of poverty and end the cycle for my family.

I don't blame anyone of today for the problems that my family or myself face. I blame the past morals of a country with a shameful past.

It's possible to acknowledge something without dwelling on it.

Answer 2

All this coming from another black person? *shakes head*... We will put ourselves down way faster than anyone else. Shame.

Girl, you got some serious issue. I am in NO way offended by your question, and I'm sorry that you feel guilty about your questions (obviously because you took the time to type out that long rant about my comment). I am NOT if your category of "the people looking for handouts". I own two houses, I have my own business, and I'm an executive at my company. I don't need ANY handouts from anyone. Just because I stated my opinion that it's sad how black folks bring each other down does not mean I support people being lazy (or whatever YOU want to call it). I don't mind hearing it from the "white man" as you so eloquently put it, THEY don't affect me, my own people do. You should watch who you turn your nose up to, you might need them one day. By the way, I wish you are mature enough to handle a difference of opinion without going off the deep end (again).

I've washed my hands with this because I don't "debate" with children. Nor am I offended by one. When you live a little longer and gain more wisdom, I'll debate with you then. Until that happens, I'm done. You keep putting down your fellow man, and I'll continue on with my life (doing things to build up my race).

Answer 3

I do agree with most of what your saying, Slavery shouldnt be used as a excuse and more blacks should take responsible for their actions and more on but, you cant overlook slavery's affect on our culture because its a large part of our history. People act like it was 1000 yrs ago, i still have great-grandmas that were slaves living. The mental chains that slavery caused are still here, its going to take time to completely change it. By doing what u said not letting past determine your future. Many blacks are doing this and moving up in class and being successful.

but your idea on reparations, I totally DISAGREE.....people are miseducated about what its about. Its not just about getting paid for slavery, but for laws that were passed toward ALL black people during/ before slavery, about what was rightly our then taken by force. Like passing the Black Codes after slavery, our forefathers passing laws stopping blacks from voting, not allowing blacks to own land, the law protecting whites killing innocent blacks, forcing FREE blacks into slavery and to carry papers, treating a race unhuman.

"Why should I get paid for something my ancestors did?"- its has nothing to do with owing someone something, its about our ancestors would dead so they and their children's children , US can have a better life. and last time i checked, money makes the world go round.

If your against reparations, maybe you should be against the Indians getting paid each month. Or Jewish people getting paid for the holocaust. More power to them. cause No one fights against that, cause they know they should pay up but its always a debate with black folks.

P.S. Speak my sister, too cute.... tell it.

Answer 4

No, I don't believe that actual slavery and being black is a hindrance. What is a hindrance is the mentality that caused the atrocity of slavery and the ignorant stereotype against blacks.

We'll never be able to eradicate the stupidity of racism, just look at some of the questions asked here on Y! Answers.

We as Black people have the tenacity and fortitude to over come these adversities and have done just that.

Answer 5

Reperations are a stupid idea, but are you delusional? People are STILL very racist, you need to open your eyes and see how much it affects a person. If your parents treated you worse because you were darker than your sister wouldn't it affect your mental development and self-esteem? Now imagine you go out into the world and everyone but a select few ignore you, don't make eye contact with you, and guys don't want to date or hit on you. Don't you think it would have a big effect on you? Don't you think they would apply their prejudice to the workplace? I'm tired of people pretending that racist doesn't exist anymore. Almost everyone is racist in some sort of way. Stop denying it.

Answer 6

its not slavery its the after effects. the black codes, the kkk, the grandfather clause and now the skin heads, neo-nazis and the white supremacist all of whose purpose is to ship blacks back to Africa, kill us or put us back as slaves. my great grand parents and grandparents and my parents can still remember when they had separate facilities and blacks riding in the back of the bus, kkk marching in the streets and burning crosses and hanging black people from trees. my mother still remember being ship all the way across town to all black schools that were old and ran down. they all remember when martin luther king was shot and what he was fighting for and still fighting for from his grave and that i was born just 4 years after that incident and the fact they still never truly found the shooter the real shooter. these are things that are direct results of slavery. yes it ended 400 yrs ago but you can't erase the history. i can learn from it and i can move on but what about all the other people. can they see us as equals will they allow us to be equals? that is the question. they don't owe me but they do owe my grand and great grand parents for the mental and physical abuse for what they had to endure during the turn of the century.

Answer 7

Bingo, you're 100% correct. Many people and races have been wronged through out the course of history. You cannot go back and correct these mistakes today without wronging someone else who is innocent. It is impossible.

Answer 8

I agree for the most part too. I feel that black people in most cases do more damage to themselves than other people with their mindsets. I bet if our ancestors were alive to see this they would be ashamed. I try to live up to their legacy but its hard sometimes, its a very emotional subject and i can tell your passionate about it. Its like that boondocks clip with martin luther king..."WILL YOU INGNORANT N****S PLEASE SHUT THE HELL UP!" lol, i thought it was called for.

Answer 9

I'm African. I'm rather undecided on reparations.

One of my fellow students tells me he goes to school free because his grandfather is Native American. I would like to see a program like that given to African Americans students instead of reparations.

Answer 10

I agree

Reparations is unrealistic solution that solves nothing.
Equality infuriates a lot of whites, just think of the raise in racism if they had to pay us.