Is the West responsible for slavery?

Question

Africans themselves rounded up the slaves, and they sold the slaves to their white merchants. Human trafficking and slavery had been there before the arrival of Europeans, and the white people only took advantage of the local customs. So does this fact make you feel better about the involvement of Europeans in slavery. Does it minimize the guilt of your European ancestors?

Answer 1

Slavery has existed since time immemorial. The ancient Egyptians had slaves; the Old Testament refers to slaves, as does the Code of Hammurabi from ancient Babylon.

In many ancient societies they did not have public prisons in which to incarcerate criminals, and often felons were forced into slavery - rowing galleys, building pyramids or roads -
and prisoners taken in war were often used as slaves until such time as their families could ransom them.

I do not believe that anyone should bear responsibility for something their ancestors may or may not have done. And remember that those who made their living from slave trading represent only a small percentage of the population.

When you ask: does this make you feel better about the involvement of Europeans in slavery? I think that is an odd question. It's rather like asking: do you think it is okay to do something bad because other people are doing it.

Answer 2

I have no guilt of what my ancestors did and did not do. I am 100% Irish. My ancestors owned plantations in Florida,Georiga and California. I was not alive during the time of slavery. I was not alive during the 60's. I did not see bathrooms that were seperated. I wish I did so I could stand up and say it is wrong, However I was not born. I am not going to feel guilty for what my ancestors did. I am proud of my herritage. I am proud to be an american. What I am not proud of is the division of our country. If you are born here you are an american. People of Africa decent have the right to feel angry toward their goverment to an extent. If they were alive during Rosa Parks, if they did see seperated bathrooms, denied services based on the color of their skin. Yes, hurt and anger will be there. If you were not alive you have no reason to *****. People of African decent are given everything. They get points added to their test scores, they get loans easier they get the NAACP. Give it a rest. Noone during this day and age is not going to hire someone because of color for the most part. Any logical business person is going to hire the person with the best skill, knowledge and people skills. Now go into a company that is owned by a person of African Decent and see what you get. The point to all this is racism is racism it doesn't matter what color you are. We should learn from the past. Most people alive today are benefitting for things they had no part of. Companies are still around from those days of slavery, however are the people still there. If they are I want to know how much it costs. IF the stuff they have makes me look 200 at 200 it better be free.

Answer 3

No....slavery, as ancient as gods and godesses, was part of normal, everyday life for many civilizations. Rome, Greece, Egypt, the Vikings, you name an ancient cultrue and you will see traces of slavery. By the time Europeans began taking slaves from Africa and using them to promote wealth in other places, there had been enough advances in society, both ethically and morally, that the very question of slavery should have been dismissed completely.
So, yes, you can lay the responsibility for the continuation of slavery and slavery as a marketable quantity on Europeans. Does it make me feel better? No, I don't feel bad about it in the first place. I am not personally responsible, nor was I personally involved. I cannot be held responsible nor accountable for the actions of my ancestors. Morally and ethically I feel bad...but otherwise, its history.

Answer 4

My European ancestors were not slave owners - this not only minimizes the guilt - it removes it completely. The "fact" you have provided us with does nothing to make me feel better about anyone's involvement in an institution that has been around since the days of ancient Greece and ancient Rome.
Yes, the Arabic peoples, the Africans, the Asians, the Europeans, and the Westerners (North Americans) were slaveowners. Who among them feels guilty?

Answer 5

I have honestly never felt any guilt about slavery. Nor, as an american, have I ever felt any shame about what we have accomplished as a nation.

Answer 6

Actually, I think (not 100% sure on it though) that slavery began in mid east/ Egypt first.

Answer 7

slavery takes on many forms, fuedalism, mortgages