Okay; I'm tired of the classic slavery debate. I'm sure you are too. But I just have to ask. Why is it that...

Question

Whenever the topic of slavery/effects on society comes up and everyone gets to arguing, there's always that one guy that comes out and says: "Well, your people enslaved whites X-thousand years ago, so I don't want to hear any more excuses."

What does that have to do with anything?

That's like me saying: "Well, your people enslaved blacks 150 years ago, so I don't want any more excuses..."

*stretches out up-turned palm*

"...where are my reparations? I'd like 40 acres and a mule, please." And we've all been through this argument before, so I don't need to elaborate.

But it's just weird, how some people jump right back on the same X-thousand-year-old crap, as if US slavery was some sort of judgment or "just desserts" for stuff that went on before Jesus was born. You're not supposed to use ancient history as an argument to complain about the discussion of fairly recent history...right?

What's up with that?

I'm not asking for reparations. I just used it as an example. And anyway, the 300 years of slavery that went on AFTER people were sold or captured from wherever, whenever kinda outweighs everything else, don't you think? That's like Micheal Vick saying: "It's not my fault I killed the dogs. You should blame the people that sold them to me."

Anyway, good answers for the most part. Vibing with the 1st Steve; the second one's a bit dim, though, especially seeing as black people just got equal rights in the US like--40 years ago. Nice try, though. Keep 'em coming!

Answer 1

OH THE COMPARISONS! That's when the arguing erupts into all out war. I'll never understand why people think that comparing atrocities to other atrocities proves a point. All history is important, and it should be accurately reported. I'm not saying otherwise. What I'm saying is that tossing around all the accusations ("But you people did this," "This tragedy was worse," "Look at what those people did," and so on....) serves no purpose. It doesn't change what anyone went through. It doesn't change the facts. And it doesn't lessen the horrors that people have endured. Why can't we just acknowledge history and discuss it without getting into a d*ck measuring contest? To me, it isn't a matter of the time period that people are talking about- The point is that so many folks use one terrible historical event or time period to belittle what others are discussing. And, in my opinion, it's absolutely ridiculous to do so; because no one truly knows the pain that others have endured. We only know our own pain (and perhaps the pain of our loved ones to a certain degree), so it's preposterous to make comparisons and presume that we can actually distinguish who, what, when, and where was worse.

Answer 2

nicely back in that factor, they did not favor more desirable slave states. The loose vs. slave states contained in the Senate would not be balanced. imagine about the Missouri Compromise. An imaginary line changed into 'drawn' on Missouri's southern border. each and every thing above that line, with the exception of the state itself, changed into loose territory, and each and every thing lower than it changed into for slavery. because this dissatisfied the soundness, Maine changed into extra as a loose state. of route at the same time as the Compromise of 1850 changed into exceeded, the completed stability component went out the window. Southerners were offended considering California changed into admitted as a loose state. yet to 'make it up' to them, the Utah and New Mexico Territories were to be determined by using commonplace sovereignty or letting the folk be certain. and clearly extremists disliked this and earlier you knew it there changed into the accomplice States Of u . s .. And contained in the DecDeclaration Independence it obviously states that all adult adult males (consisting of slaves) are created equivalent and own the rights of existence, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. And no man or woman should be dealt with as sources.

Answer 3

I agree w/ you completely, what I notice is when I am around whites (except my bf he seems perfectly comfortable to talk about it) and you bring up slavery they either want to change the subject, get very ansy or want to blame someone else instead of taking responsibility for their part in the african diaspora. Yes other blacks sold blacks to whites, but no one forced whites to buy them. Even if reparations were offered I wouldn't want it, you can buy my forgivness, a simple I'm sorry for what my acestors did to your ancestors is all black people (at least the ones I know) ever really wanted. A solid acknowledgement that it happened and someone who is truly sorry that it happened. Black people want their positive contributions to american society to be in the history books. I can speak for myself and say I want all of the races that contributed to american society in a positive way to be reflected in the history books. But it is not. So that really does lead me to the question are we the home of the free and the land of the brave? Only when we acknowledge our past, accept our mistakes & shortcomings, and yes put it in the history books so that our future descedents can see what we did right & wrong so that they do not make the same mistakes that we did and we as an american society and truly elevate ourselves so when we say we ARE the home of the free & the land of the brave, we will all know that we really are. But to do that we as individuals would have to confront our own personal inner demons & shortcoming, and those of our families, then we can confront society and do the above mentioned. I honestly can't see that happening because how many people (except me, *smile*) want to really see themselves, shortcomings & all and deal w/ themselves and their families on that level. Very few indeed.

Answer 4

I've read all your answers - good.

Did anyone ever consider that for the most part, most black folks have nothing to look back on except some vague story they read in a white man's book about how their ancestors were slaves?

A disproportionate amount are in the penal system, dont own property, have substandard education. I could go on, but I'll stop. Other races have this going on too, BUT

a white guy can say, oh my ancestors were from this little town in italy and this little town in ireland

a mexican-american -- ok, self explanatory. same for a chinese-american...

but we as black folks, we ain't got s--- except VHS copies of Motown Returns to the Apollo (198?). No ***long standing*** family values, traditions, way of life, religion... and that's what holds people's minds together when life gets HARD.

The Jews got literally exterminated during the reign of the Third Reich, but at least they have something to be unified about today -- and to flourish with.

Just think on it.

Answer 5

Wow! I'm speechless! You've made some great points. I don't defend Michael Vick one bit. I say they should throw him to the dogs!

Slavery was a sad time in history and I'm glad that our eyes are open. But until people stick together, history will repeat itself.

Answer 6

People like to pretend as if once slavery was over, that was it. Well, slavery lead to Jim Crow laws and the legal hate and racism that just ended in this country less than 50 YEARS AGO!!

That is the relevance. Why is it okay to remember everything else in history except slavery? It's a part of history. You can't just say forget about it and wipe it out of our country's history memory. It is so relevant that it's affects are still felt today.

That's the real relavance of it...the fact that legally it's effects just ended less than 50 years ago, and the de facto effects are still alive and well.

You cannot forget the mistakes in history lest you repeat them.

Answer 7

Dont people know that history and the past is a reflective mirror of some of the issues that we are still facing today. Yes, slavery ended in the 1800's, but you still have descendents of these people who still have the residual effects of what took place back then. It is easy for race of people to want u to forget about what happened, considering that some of the financial profits earned from this dispicable period is being enjoyed by the descendants of these former slave owners.

Answer 8

Frankly, the most recent example of slavery in the United states was over 100 years ago, so I think that we should all move on. No one should be using ancient history to try to make up for recent history, but the Civil War was several generations ago, and I think the debate should be ended.

Answer 9

White people don't like it when you bring up the bad things their ancestors did. For some reason they think this reflects who they are as people, which is quite sad.

They want to believe what their kindergarten teachers told them years ago.

"We are the good guys. They are the bad guys."

As soon as they starting hearing about slavery and segregation and violation of human rights that took place WHILE they were receiving these rights for themselves they realize, "Holy crap...what a bunch of scum." And then they go through the whole "white guilt" thing which is absolutely annoying.

So then they use their defense mechanism. "Hey, let's change the subject! Africans sold the slaves to the Europeans! Ha! See? It wasn't just us! I feel SOOO much better now!" *Note Andrew's response*

It's quite petty.

Answer 10

do they really say that? sorry but i don't get into those kind of debates i don't think its gonna take us anywhere so I wouldn't know, although i would like to know where exactly and when did black slaved whites... because you are like the second person I've heard saying that and what I've been taught about ancient history none body mention color to me so i wouldn't know.