Salvery, are the blacks just as guilty as they captured their own and sold them on to the traders as salves?

Answer 1

that all depends on whether you want the honest truthful answer...or the politically correct one.

Answer 2

It is very true that Africans gleefully participated in the slave trade, and this unpalatable truth should not be swept under the carpet.

But what I have to take issue with is both the generalisation of 'blacks' as if Africa was one homogeneous group and not a very complex network of tribes and nations, and the current tense you use ' are just as guilty', which implies the guilt lies on the present generation, black or white.
You can take the 'sins of the fathers' motif too far. If the actions of people of many generations ago, with different standards, morals and mindsets, are to used to appraise the guilt of those alive today, were do you draw the line? Are all 21st Century Germans guilty of the crimes of the Nazis? Are black South Africans guilty of the aggressive wars and atrocities of the 19th century Zulus? Sooner or later, you have to just consign things to history. Learn from it, but don't perpetuate it!

Answer 3

Only certain tribes were involved in the capture and sale of others. They only reacted to the demands of the colonial powers. If the demand was not there, it would not have happened. I do however acknowledge that slavery was on-going long before the 'whites' arrived. It was also a way to bring new women into a tribe to ensure a good mix of genes for future generations.

Answer 4

They might want to deny it, but black people in Africa sold out their own people and started the slave trade.

This is "slavery week" or "lay a guilt trip on Old Whitey week." The slavery issue is a big stick for blacks to beat the white race with. All that does is make white people more resentful of being used as scapegoats for something that happened centuries before they were born. It's unfair.

Besides, you can't please black people. If you say you feel no guilt over slavery, they call you racist. If you agree with them, they say they don't need your help.

Answer 5

I think that although slavery was an awful thing at the time, we should not have to feel bad about it now. Let's remember, much of the black community in Britain today would not enjoy the freedoms and the standard of living that they do, were it not for slavery.

And where does it end? Should we demand apologies over the Roman's, the Vikings? Should we demand constant apologies from Germany over both world wars as well as Japan? It's time to draw a line and not forget the past, but don't apologise for it happening. History is history.

Answer 6

For too long slavery has been seen as a "black" thing. A tragedy only suffered by black Africans. This is just not correct. In history there have been slaves of various races, creeds and colours. We should all move on and leave slavery as a "black" tragedy where it belongs, in history. We should concentrate on eliminating modern day slavery which unfortunately still continues in one form or another.

Answer 7

Yes its worse to betray you own. I refuse to be held responsible for what happened 200 years ago. I have traced my family back further than that and all I have ever found is poverty. Maybe the lords and ladies but not us common people. All my uncles were conscripted into the war and lost their lives. They didn`t want to go but if the had not they would have be imprisoned. 2 others were told if they didn`t go down the pits at 14 the too would be imprisoned.

Answer 8

human beings enslaved other human beings.

Their colour is irrelevant.

You're only guilty of enslaving others now if you do so now.

You're only a slave if you aren't free now.

Do you actually want to blame black people for slavery?

Answer 9

i understand what ur saying,
yes 2 save themselves some handed over their kin.

2 WRONGS, DON'T MAKE A RIGHT!
does it?

sad but true, some dominant whales would lead whaling ships 2 other whale pods, 2 save themselves
man is part of the animal kingdom & are as mercenary as they come!

Answer 10

there was a chap in south wales who became the richest man in the united kingdom in the late 1700`s through sugar and slavery, he became a magistrate and then a local sheriff and was black. his house is still there in the grounds of chepstow race course very much falling to pieces. not sure if he ever felt guilty mind.

Answer 11

Everyone is trying to salve their conscience.