Japanese Americans received reparations?

Question

so I don't understand why African Americans shouldn't recieve it.

"Nearly twenty years ago, Congress did apologize for the treatment of Japanese Americans who were imprisoned in internment camps during World War II and paid each person $20,000"

I don't see myself as a victim, but I'm tired of ppl trying to downplay slavery saying "it was a long time ago", like it doesn't affect modern AA's. This is not about money....we haven't even gotten an apology. And before anyone goes into the stop blaming mode, I, nor my family has ever had gov't assistance & I've never lived in the "ghetto". I have a job, take care of myself, don't have children so the money isn't an issue.

Answer 1

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Related to this question is the fact that more people
in our society need to come to the realization that
(as a consensus) when the African-Americans (AAs)
have requested "reparations" -- (unlike the other groups
which have 'demanded' reparations in the form of ‘cash’)
-- the AA 'consensus' definition of "reparations" has
essentially been for a government-sponsored / endorsed
"museum" (as opposed to all of the 'privately built' ones
the AAs have created on their own) & a "national
day of remembrance" & a "formal apology".

In addition, one would also hope that society will
one day come to realize that AA-tax dollars would
also be included in the cost of such a "museum".

Another thing one hopes that society becomes aware of
is the fact that the U.S. paid for a 'Holocaust Museum' in
Washington D.C. -- despite the fact that the Holocaust
took place in Europe (and, in that case it was American
tax dollars -- not European – that paid for the museum).

What is odd is that the 'one group' that (as a consensus)
has not requested a 'cash settlement' for their "reparations"
is the 'one group' that every one protests (without bothering
to hear them out) when the topic is brought up for them.

Meanwhile -- the U.S. has given "reparations" to the
Japanese government (the $20Billion they received
after WW2 built their auto factories); the citizens
of nations like Afghanistan, Israel, Egypt; Iraq,
& numerous other people groupings.

Some of these payments were for offenses that Americans
did not even commit; or were committed as a part
of war; or were simply committed by other groups
on foreign soil -- yet no one ever protests or
becomes indignant about these reparations.

The discussion of “reparations” in the form of a
"museum" request—however -- makes them go nuts.

It should be noted that-even though the AAs neither
'caused' nor benefited from the sufferings of groups
like the Native Americans (NAs); Japanese-Americans
(JAs) & European-Jews (EJs) ... the AAs (like all
Americans) have 'paid reparations to’ all of these groups.

What's ironic is that most of the AAs never complained
about paying 'reparations' out to other groups--yet people
always complain about even the 'discussion' of paying
'reparations' of any sort (even if just in the form
of a 'national museum') to the AAs

The people complaining seem to forget that AAs
themselves would be a part of the group that would
'also' be 'taxed' in order to 'pay for' the “reparation”
(whether in the form of a 'museum' or 'national day of
recognition', etc.) that they are requesting be considered.

If it doesn't bother the AAs to 'contribute to the pot'
of 'reparations for all the groups (including their own
... why does it bother so many people to even 'hear
them out' & bother even trying to listen to them
and 'what they are actually requesting'?

Another ironic point is that most people protesting any
form of “reparations” for this group-just assume the AAs
would not be included in 'contributing to the funds' &
always assume the AA's want "cash"-when, in reality
(while we Americans have willingly doled out actual cash
to every group here & overseas demanding 'reparations'
from the US)-the one group that (as a consensus)
states they just want 'a museum' or 'an apology' (&
not “cash”) is the one no one wants to hear out.

Let’s also try to remember that the whole 'reparations'
issue is not related to 'how poor’ a group is as a result
of the harsh treatment it's ancestors went thru.

(Ex. Japanese-Americans & European-Jews are some
of the world's most successful and well-off people -- yet
have received 'reparations' & the European-Jews even
received reparations funds from the US -- via the UN
& the Holocaust Museum in D.C. -- AND – also --
contrary to myth -- most of the AAs are not poor
and do not live in ghettoes or the inner-city).

For those who would like to mention other previously
suffering groups such as the Chinese railroad workers
or the Irish factory workers (and unlike the AAs, JAs,
NAs & EJs)--it needs to be remembered that these
groups entered into their situation 'volitionally'--
so 'reparations' isn't even an applicable issue to
them-- as 'reparations' are only considered when
a group has been physically 'forced' into a situation.

Also 'reparations' isn't always about "cash"--
in fact, many of the AAs have simply requested
their ‘reparations’ in the form of a 'national
museum', etc.--yet every one always 'assume'
they've been requesting "cash" (when most of
them actually have not done any such thing).

Source(s):

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Al5eeK2CFwcv4rD5U5qzvEfty6IX?qid=20070527201834AAIhzhM&show=7#profile-info-CiC2JY9Maa
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AiebDu.tSshJzQ0wS5fMp7jty6IX?qid=20070623205206AANUzPN&show=7#profile-info-q1hdwifgaa
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AjwuxYj8agKY7yGgqaJ7i.Xty6IX?qid=20070704121228AA7ZMsA&show=7#profile-info-ezQwEaJLaa
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Generation-Mixed/message/991
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Generation-Mixed/message/1399
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Generation-Mixed/message/1570
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Generation-Mixed/message/1573

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Answer 2

Japanese Reparations

Answer 3

The only reason I am answering this question is because of Jan6210. What is it in particular that makes Japanese sooo much smarter. How do you quantify intelligence. Your answer makes you appear to be an unenlightened person. The facts are that there are some African Americans who are smarter than Japanese and Americans, some Americans are smarter than African Americans, and some are as you say but to imply that Japanese are more intelligent than either in all cases is asinine. There is no race that is "better" than the other. We are all human beings and perform better or worse based on environmental factors. Some people are pushed to perform and given the support they need to succeed. Others are denied opportunity as a general rule. There are people from all races who have overcome overwhelming forces and succeeded anyway. Most times it isn't your race but an individual choice to become successful. If you are fairly intelligent and Japanese, thank your parents for making you learn. And don't think it's your race that's the cause of it..

Answer 4

Tracing them while they were being taken in and released is a sure way of knowing who was imprisoned - thus the JapAmericans survivors were given money. Its hard to know exactly who was a slave or not, everyone would be at Congress saying they were the sons/daughters of slaves. The only one's who could possibly get anything would be the actual slaves themselves.
Another issue here is that the US Govt imprisoned the JapAmericans - unlike the slaves whom were enslaved by private individuals / land owners. I can realistically see that if they were taken as US slaves, then they should no doubt receive money.
Its hard to go back now and try to give money out - many of the former slave owning families would be hard to tact on liability for their forefathers. Tough case but it all boils down to Congress on this issue and I think they won't take responsibility for southern white slave owners actions back in the day.

Answer 5

you are absolutely right but if it anything benift black people most white people and some black people are against it. I bet if they did hand out checks you wouldn't see to many black people saying I don't feel I desereve a check and I'm not going to take it because I wasn't a slave, but on another note reparations doesn't have to mean everyone gets a check a an apology, monument or a museum would be acceptable. The Jews got a museum in DC from American tax dollars and the Holocaust didn't even happen in the United States. The Japanese got reparations for being in interment camps during WWII. There are many black people living today who had to experience segregation and being treated like second class citizens and fearing for their lives if they even looked at a white person wrong, ie Emmit Till for Example. There are people alive today who were tortured by whites prior and during the civil right movement. I know an older person told me that some white men beat her son and set him on fire and made her tuck his legs in so the fire would burn him completely to death. Some people most don't think that traumatized her and the government owes her nothing and the countless other black people living today who were tortured just for being born black and the government not doing anything. Black peoople living today should ask their grandparents or parents if there from the south do they feel that they are owed repations and see what kind of answers they get.

Answer 6

Because it was easier to give them reparations, because they were seperated. It would be extremely difficult to give reparations to African Americans because we are all mixed up. How would they do it? How much money would we get? Just as many White people would get reparations as African Americans because we are all mixed up. So many White people would like to deny their Black blood, but if reparations occured, I bet alot more would come forward. Point being made, it would be a very difficult process.

Answer 7

The n.Africans went out in their ships and captured about half a million whites and sold them into slavery in the early seventeen hundreds.they went to Ireland and took an entire town and sold them. till the U.S. Marines went to Africa and fought them and stopped them. so if you can get reparations from whites. i want reparations from Africans.I will be expecting a check from you soon?

and what about the 1000 or so Negroes hung from lampposts in new york city during the war.10s of 1000s of blacks were murdered by Yankees during the war of aggression.and theirs five times more KKK members up north then in the south.why do people think its the south that's racists. its the Yankees by far that's racists.
Lincoln said he was going to colonize all blacks and send them ALL to south America, after that war. why do people think he cared about blacks.?he freed the Southern slaves.NOT the northern slaves. so they would run away and join the fight to keep the nation whole.

Answer 8

It's a good question. I don't know why people think that Blacks were mistreated only during slavery. Haven't they ever heard of the Jim Crow laws and segregation? It goes a lot deeper than slavery people. Educate yourselves!
http://www.nps.gov/archive/malu/documents/jim_crow_laws.htm

Answer 9

They alredy did and do receive reparations. Did you just pull your head out of the sand ? Ever heard of The Band Aid concert ? What about all of those charities for Africa relief ?
UNICEF ? Billions of dollars was and is being sent to Africa from various charities from America and Europe.
Who's suposed to pay for reparations to descendants of African American slaves ? Did Italian,Greek,Russian,Irish,Chinese,Hungarian,Swedish,Yugoslavian or Jewish Americans ever own slaves ? No. If you want to pay for African American reparations. Go ahead

Answer 10

Well hell, my family was enslaved by Rome under Marcus Aurelius, I guess there are a few million like me too....maybe we should demand reparations from Italy. Makes about as much sense.
The biggest difference here is that at the time they were interred the Japanese Americans were CITIZENS.
The blacks were enslaved by their own tribal leaders in many cases and sold to the highest bidders. We are not the only country that bought these slaves you know. Not to mention that it happened hundreds of years ago, and that reparations will not give them freedom or self respect. What it will do is buy them off like so many prostitutes, is that what you had in mind? Until the black culture stops seeing itself as a victim, it will continue to BE a victim.