As a 49 yr old southern white Christian woman, I have never owned a black slave (or anyone of any race) so why am I, along with the rest of white America, made to feel that we were personally responsible for slavery. I agree that it was a bleak time in history but it was no worse than the holocaust or other periods when man tried to control others. People like Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton just perpetuate racism. As "Reverands" and I use the term loosly, they obviously didn't read about forgiveness in their Bible (or maybe they had it removed). They are even able to provoke racist feelings in me even though I don't like it. It's time to let the past be the past and move on to make our time on earth count for something positive. As long as people live in the past they will never move forward.
2007-04-14 15:15:50 · 21 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Other - Society & Culture
The problems with the past is it effects who we are today.
And those who forget the lessons of the past are doomed to repeat them.
I don't think (hope) that every descendant of slavery believes that every white was responsible, just as not every German was responsible for the Holocaust. There are good and bad in all peoples of the world.
Here in Australia we had what they called "Sorry" Marches. This was to acknowledge that the first Australians were badly affected by the coming of the whites. Some said that their families weren't here then, so it wasn't their fault, but that's not the point. The point was it was necessary to acknowledge their pain, and to share the hope of a better tomorrow.
And I think for most, the red American, the Black Australian, the Jews from the Holocaust, The Slaves from Africia, etc the point is the same. If we don't aknowledge the pain caused, how can they be expected to move on? If we say just forget it, how can we change things so that it doesn't happen again?
Perhaps some people go aroung things the wrong way, trying to get people to know their point, but I hope their hearts are in the right place.
2007-04-14 15:35:51 · answer #1 · answered by Barb Outhere 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Did the ancestors of White Americans even have ANYTHING to do with slavery in the Americas?
In the 'Black Almanac,' it states that only 5% of the total number of slaves imported into the Americas were brought to the United States, or 5% of the "guilt." In the United States, it's a well-established fact that slavery ONLY existed in the South, and ONLY practiced by 1% of the White population of the South. 1% of the South would be about 0.4% of the whole country. Okay, now we're at 0.4% of the blame. When slavery ended in the United States in 1865, at least 40% of our ancestors had NOT even gotten here yet! So lets adjust that figure. 60% of 0.4% is 0.24%. Jewish slave companies owned virtually all of the ships, that has got to be 50% of the blame, so now we're at 0.12%. Arab slavers and African chieftains were responsible for initially catching the people. That's got to be 25% of the blame, so the total "blame" on the ancestors of modern day White Americas is 0.09%.
2007-04-17 07:45:45 · answer #2 · answered by Joe C. 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I personally believe that I can not blame the people of today for slavery, we were not there. However, I do have a problem when people automatically categorize blacks in negative ways and call me an "exception" because I am not that way. There are some people of other races and look down on African Americans because some of them are ghetto or "hood". That is what bothers me. I say people are people some are good some are bad; race has nothing to do with it.
I also believe we should know the past because if you don't know where you have been; then you don't know where you are going. Yet, I do not believe people should dwell in the past and hold grudges.
2007-04-14 15:38:11 · answer #3 · answered by MISS 84 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Agree. The race card has become a cop out, an excuse and a reason for reverse racism and hate. Move on and get over yourself.
An as far as "school of life sucks", go back to real school and get a life.
2007-04-14 16:46:12 · answer #4 · answered by Zenawoo 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I agree 100% All this talk about an apology is ridiculous. It wasn't us , and we didn't do it to anyone living right now. Also I believe that some of their own people sold these people into slavery when they sent them over here. Slavery still happens in some parts of the world. But it doesn't happen here any more. And if it does, it's certainly some fruitcake that should be in prison for doing it!!
2007-04-14 15:23:09 · answer #5 · answered by dog whisperer 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
We don't seem to be deciding to buy Adam and Eve's sins. Original sin gave us a sin nature in view that all of us are Adam and Eve in a way. We are dependable for our possess sins, no longer others. We don't seem to be dependable for what slave house owners or any person did. But humans are dependable for his or her movements if they're seeking to blame white humans who're alive in these days for the movements of the ones ago.
2016-09-05 13:27:43 · answer #6 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's the martyr complex. No one alive today suffered the horrors of slavery like in the 19th century. There are always going to be people who think they are owed something because of something that happened to somebody else. How funny that white people can be all grouped under the umbrella of slave owners and all deemed guilty by association, but if you dare to say that something is a black issue or trait, you are accused of racial stereotyping.
2007-04-14 15:28:45 · answer #7 · answered by April K 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
The Americans of African descent will never move ahead as a whole until they let it go and realize Education and entrepreneurism is the way ,not revenge after 140 something years against people ,most whose ancestors (like my great great grandfather) fought to free the slaves.(Illinois regiment 4th cavalry).And really it was a bunch of rich land owners in the South not the average farmer who had the slaves.
2007-04-14 15:25:06 · answer #8 · answered by AngelsFan 6 · 3⤊ 1⤋
slavery is a black eye in the history of the world...it can not change. yet i hear black people say they want reparations...yeah they want a check for what there great grandparents went though...sorry but are you that shallow? it is the past...i am sorry...move on. there is a reason for the saying "turn the other cheek", if we (all of us) don't figure this out... we continue this dance of hate and injustice forever.
2007-04-14 15:37:38 · answer #9 · answered by Big Willy Knight 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Is it possible that blacks are racist? There is no race riots but in America.
Blacks are allowed to flourish in America and America only. No other country gives blacks a chance at anything. (I exclude Africa since it is only known for corruption and brutatily of its people, all blacks btw).
How do we know this? There is no famous great black of note from ANY other country in the world, except America! Yet, we are the only country accused of racism by blacks.
SO, who really is causing racism in America?
BTW, I just posted a question here if you care to be the first to answer since YAHOO post such question well hidden in the queue.
My question "If America is so racist (according to negroes) why is there no great ***** of note from any other country?"
2007-04-14 15:34:44 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋