Reparations for Slavery

[Nebulous's iconNebulous]

Should countries that benefited from slavery compensate the descendants of slaves?

 

[Nebulous's iconNebulous]

I dont really understand this whole thing. Whatever happened to my ancestors in the 1800's or whatever has nothing to do with me today.

 

[Corleone]

No.. If we lived during that time, yes, but now in America, the opportunity is out there. You are what you make yourself.

 

[civilwarrocks]

Of course not. As a side note: it's a little known fact that freed blacks in 18th & early 19th century America were able to own slaves & many of them did.

 

[xneseyx]

Of course not. As a side note: it's a little known fact that freed blacks in 18th & early 19th century America were able to own slaves & many of them did.

I didn't know that... that's an interesting fact.

 

[Temerit]

I would say no, but statements like this: (No.. If we lived during that time, yes, but now in America, the opportunity is out there. You are what you make yourself.) are not entirely true. Because the freedmen, being free slaves naturally has very few possession, most probably just the clothes on their backs. We all know that in America, social motility is very limited, the Horatio Alger rags to riches stories are the exceptions to the rule. Those born in poverty tend to live and die in poverty. Those born rich tend to live and die rich. And thus, since almost all African Americans began with nothing, they remain a larger proportion of the poor population than they do of the general population? Does this warrant reparations?



But then this raises the question, Where would the money for reparations come from? because I also believe that it is unfair to penalize those who have done nothing similar to the atrocities that were committed against these people so long ago. Since the offenders are long dead, there is not much that can be done... You cannot put generations long dead on trial.