There’s a growing demand coming from the fringe — well, let’s hope it’s the fringe — demanding reparations for sufferings caused by slavery in America as well as for the sufferings, primarily of African-Americans, in the years since its abolition. It’s a radical idea that cannot be supported economically or ideologically.
Before going further, it must be stated emphatically that the practice of slavery is abhorrent. That it occurred in America is a stain on our history. That it occurred throughout the world for millennia, is a stain on humanity. No amount of words will remove the fact that this inhumane practice has been part of the human condition. Those who worked for its abolition deserve our admiration and gratitude.
However, demands for trillions of dollars in reparations to the descendants of those who suffered under slavery in America in not supportable. More on page two.
Nope, time we quit paying the ancestors of Native Americans too, it’s seriously outdated.
I have not owned any slaves, black or white, so I do not owe any such debt..
What about the Whites that was part of the Abolionist movement, Underground Railroad? Are they exempt? What portion should thet pay? What about the nations that purchased the cotton and tobacco that fueled the need for slaves? What about the Portuguese slave traders? What about the African kings that sold them? Should they be required to pay as they had a part in the slavery? This may be enraging but since the end of slavery they have had the better quality of life then those. in West Africa. They also have benefited from the slavery days. Everyone has, not just whites. Compare the African nations to the US and its plain to see. Our poorest have a better quality of life then those poor in African nations. Almost everything is transported by railroals built by Chinese slaves so should we pay them? How much should the Blacks pay for their part? I have seen racism in every ethnic group I have encountered in my near five decades. This is no excuse nor I am making any. Slavery is wrong, PERIOD. This stems from the whole victimhood mentality the liberals have created. Everyone is a victim of the Whites. Despite slavery still existing in parts of Africa, mind you. If we go back in time far enough, search our family trees we can find a reason to be a victim. A point in time where our ancestors was oppressed. I know in the case of Blacks here its only a few generations. But in that short time, great strides have been taken. America has done more in less time than any other nation in history to correct this wrong. Question is enough been done to correct it could be asked. Who is to judge on this matter? I heard that each former slave was to recieve 40 acres of land and a mule. What is the average cost of an acre of land and the price of a mule these days? Add it all up and multiply by number recieving is this sum. Is this what the professor did to come to the 40 trillion dollars? Is he saying that mere money makes everything okay? The slavery, Jim Crow laws. Segeration. Its all okay if you Whites pay us, is that his message? Greed mixed with low self esteem and victimhood? I dont have the answer to this slavery question. I am no sage.
I wonder if his people owned any slaves because black people had slaves too ,but I guess that doesn’t count because he’s Black, it’s so one side it .
If there were ever proof of the underdevelopment of the Black Mind………
Slavery in Africa was begun by black tribes selling their rival tribes. Also, many of the early slave owners in America were black!
Hey! How about you put the ENTIRE article on one page?!
Put your articles on one page, or I won’t be back.
How about “I will voluntarily pay for any “ African American to move back to the Mother Land! However you may never come back!
I will be willing to pay reparations as soon as I own a slave. And I know who I want: Oprah Winfrey! And ALL OF HER MONEY COMES WITH HER!!!
Seriously every great nation had slaves. It was a part of development of resources. We simply were the last one. And one must also look at the source of the slaves that were brought here which were the tribal leaders in Africa who willingly sold their neighbors and even their own people to the slave traders. What is THEIR contribution to these reparations?
I vote no.
We should not have to pay for that. Some of us where not even born than.