The slave trade was big business, it was the foundation for many prospering companies today. None that want to live up to it's legacy.
2007-03-30 00:59:30 · 29 answers · asked by Sirius 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Cultures & Groups ➔ Other - Cultures & Groups
It is funny how people who were not affected by the slave trade can answer so confidently No. I did not know there was a statue of limitations for the murder and theft of 100,000,000 Africans and Europeans are still in Africa today robbing all the natural resources. But I do not think we need reparations - although I think it is deserved - We are in such a messed up state of mind as a people we would do nothing but give it right back by buying materialistic B.S. I would rather our history be taught correctly and truthfully instead of teaching us that we are the ancestors of slaves. American history teaches us that the world did not start spinning until whites popped up on the earth and that Europeans are Gods only gift to the earth - ant the Greeks Educated the world. The ethnocentric European history that is taught is killing us and then Europeans/Americans want to tell us that it does not matter because we are all the same people and things have gotten better. Then they tell us we are all the same but we have to take Afro-American history (which is an elective that you do not have to take) just to learn about us. So obviously someone still thinks we are very different if things that happened in America are not in the regular history book. If we as a people do not know where we have been then we will not know where to go - which is why many of us are just living day for day with no purpose. We have an Identy crisis and that needs to be delt with first. We can make our own money!!!
2007-03-30 01:34:49 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋
The emancipation proclamation was back in 1863. None of the blacks alive today have been slaves, so how could they possibly deserve reparations for that?
You might be able to make a case for reparations for discrimination - that's what affirmative action is, after all. For slavery, though, you're a few generations too late.
One problem with affirmative action is that it tends to benefit middle class blacks who really don't need the help so much. If you want to remedy past injustice, it would be more sensible to find a way to help the poorer blacks... or better yet, poorer people without regard for race. However, that's a topic for some other time.
2007-03-30 08:07:19 · answer #2 · answered by Bramblyspam 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Anyone, black, white, pink or purple deserves reparations for being a slave - if they are the actual victim.
In todays society, many blacks have achieved great things but, you still have many blacks takin credit for and living off of the actions and events of their ancestors. They are the ones that actually make it hard for blacks as a whole to more forward, away from the slavery issue. It did not directly involve those seekin reparations other than the fact it made them an American by birthright. Where would they be now, if their ancestors tribes, villages and kinsmen had thought enough of them to not trade them much like dry goods?
2007-03-30 12:02:02 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No! What is the criteria for paying reparations? That you have dark skin? It has been over 125 years since there have have been slaves in the US. There are no surviving slaves or children of slaves. Many black people and their families came to the US after the Civil War. Should they be paid as well? I hate to say this, but if anyone thinks they are worse off because their ancestors got taken to the US 200 years ago, take a look at the conditions in Africa and see if they would be happier living there. I don't think so!
2007-03-30 09:17:54 · answer #4 · answered by shake202 1 · 2⤊ 1⤋
NO! They have their reparation by finally gaining the same rights and opportunitites and having the same place in this nation as all other Americans. The rest of America should not pay for their shortcomings. And that's exactly what they are trying to do by using slavery as their argument. What more reparation could they possibly want other than for their own personal selfish gain?
Our nation will never forget the slave days . By trying to get reparation will only dredge up the past and add more fuel to the fire, thus increasing inter-racial tensions. . Isn't there enough already? Why can't we remember the past, but realize we all have equal opportunities and rights and all try to get along.
2007-03-30 08:19:33 · answer #5 · answered by culinary queen 1 · 3⤊ 0⤋
If people are going to go there then what about the native americans....this was their land to begin with...also to diagem:Who says that native americans live tax free???I think you need to get your facts staight before you say things about native americans that you dont know anything about.Im part native american and I pay taxes just like everyone else.But back to the issue...i dont think they should be paid reparations because they are not slaves anymore...It is horrible the things that happened to them and what they had to go through but that doesnt justify people having to pay them for something that happened along time ago especially if they are not alive anymore.Things like this that happened along time ago should teach us the mistakes that we have made and move on to make things better instead of living in the past and complaining about it.Complaining about it and saying what shoulda been done isnt going to change anything but now knowing our history we can change all that in which we should.
2007-03-30 11:41:08 · answer #6 · answered by boriqua_052005 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No offense to any black person, I am not a racist and I don't mean to attack you. I am also entitled to my opinion.
I find that black Americans are way to sensitive where it no longer concerns them.
South African black people are not harping on how bad the white man was to them and that was only 11 years ago, that they were no longer oppressed.
They are a shining example of what moving on really is.
We had the truth and reconciliation period and that is what helped this nation.
Our only struggle is the high crime rate and the brutality of woman and children in this country.
No I don't believe that any body should pay reparations when it happened so many centuries ago.
2007-03-30 08:48:27 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Of course all of the whites will say no (and some uncle tom blacks).
Yes, I believe their should be reparations only for African Americans, not present day Africans, because they moved to America on their own free will.
White people also say that they are paying blacks. That too is not true. We are asking reparations from government not them.
The fact that they think that they are giving us money, shows that they are saying the government / country is owned and run by WHITE PEOPLE. (Which it is, but they won't tell you that up front)
2007-03-30 22:18:17 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
I think slavery was horrid, and completely unacceptable. I also think if I got a knock on my door saying that in my family tree my ancestors owned slaves and I owe money I wouldn't be very happy. I can't help what people hundreds of years ago decided to do. I think there are still social injustices going on today, but these things will not be changed with money. Things will only get better when people stop defending themselves and making excuses and start listening to one another and making changes.
2007-03-30 08:15:49 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Yes, we should receive reparations. Black people were done way worse than any American Indian. Not to dump on them (cause they were robbed too, just in a more shady business like fashion), but we were STOLEN from our birth place, robbed of our tribal languages, thrown over the side of slave ships by the thousands, not to mention the rapes and torture. Not even the Jew's (but they're lose was catastrophic on all levels as well.) suffered as much as the African and the Diaspora that we are now. Yes, we should have been first to collect that check! Maybe even get two.
2007-03-30 11:21:09 · answer #10 · answered by KING FROST 2 · 1⤊ 2⤋