Virginia Lawmaker Says Blacks 'Should Get Over' Slavery

[thetreble 19]

Not any one I suppose. But I have come across this question a lot. Since I am Caucasian, and it is a very US VS THEM mentality when it comes to talking about slavery, the finger is often pointed at the white society. I am a part of that, am I not? :/

A symbolic, historical apology is like what the Pope did when he apologized for the way so many priests and bishops in Nazi Germany turned a blind eye to the atrocities committed against the Jews.

When someone I know tells me about a tragic event that happened to them, I usually say I'm sorry that happened to you...it's the same idea.

Now to this I do agree. I wrote my thesis for my honours BA titled "Should African-Americans receive reparations?". Now, it is true that no public apology from the government has ever been made. From my research, most countries have offered an apology and some kind of reparations even up until the time of my writing. The german government has offered not necessary monetary supplements to those people whose ancestors were victims of the third reich, but also has set up charities. Not only has the government put money into these charities, but so have business that took part in victimizing certain peoples during this period.

Canada, for example, has made out reparations to families of those interned in japanese internment camps in Canada.(one of the darker times in our short history)

Why has the US not followed suit? It is hard to say. Lots of factors seem to be determining this. I do believe that an apology needs to be had though at some point, and at least a talk of reparations. The US government has never really "talked" about doing this.

[Dan J 277]

Not any one I suppose. But I have come across this question a lot. Since I am Caucasian, and it is a very US VS THEM mentality when it comes to talking about slavery, the finger is often pointed at the white society. I am a part of that, am I not? :/

A symbolic, historical apology is like what the Pope did when he apologized for the way so many priests and bishops in Nazi Germany turned a blind eye to the atrocities committed against the Jews.

When someone I know tells me about a tragic event that happened to them, I usually say I'm sorry that happened to you...it's the same idea.

Now to this I do agree. I wrote my thesis for my honours BA titled "Should African-Americans receive reparations?". Now, it is true that no public apology from the government has ever been made. From my research, most countries have offered an apology and some kind of reparations even up until the time of my writing. The german government has offered not necessary monetary supplements to those people whose ancestors were victims of the third reich, but also has set up charities. Not only has the government put money into these charities, but so have business that took part in victimizing certain peoples during this period.

Canada, for example, has made out reparations to families of those interned in japanese internment camps in Canada.(one of the darker times in our short history)

Why has the US not followed suit? It is hard to say. Lots of factors seem to be determining this. I do believe that an apology needs to be had though at some point, and at least a talk of reparations. The US government has never really "talked" about doing this.

The US provided reparations to the Asian Americans held in interment camps about 10 years ago, I think it was 1996.

[thetreble 19]

Yes that is probably true although I don't believe it was in my data collection as it probably wasn't that significant in terms of monetary data.

However, I was talking about African Americans.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

The effects are definitely not gone; I will agree with that. However, until the day I die, I will not take blame for something I did not do, that was a product of a time hundreds of years before I even existed.

I wouldn't say you (or I) are to blame, but its easy to forget that we inherited the clean end of the stick (with all the benefits attached to that).

There are people still expecting reparations for conditions they never experienced and from people that never committed them. Case in point, my family, on my moms side, came to the US in the late 1800's after the civil war. My Dads family is still mostly in Sweden. Should I be responsible for slavery when my family wasn't even in the US?

There are effects of slavery and the segregation that followed still present, but we should be focused on fixing the inequalities rather than providing free handouts to the descendents of slaves as some people would like.

As individuals - no I don't think we're 'responsible'.

[Cassandra+Yuibi 0]

I personally don't understand why reperations should be given to people who were not victims. Slavery has not been legal in ANY of our lifetimes in the USA, therefore, no one alive has been subjected to that kind of slavery. I can understand the GOVERNMENT making an apology to an extent- but to me it just seems like a lot of people screaming for reperations because they're ancestor was a slave are just greedy and are using the suffering of people they didn't even know as a means to fuel their greed.

I'm not trying to justify slavery or anything ridiculous like that- I think we all agree that slavery is a disgusting part of this country's (and many other countries') history. But I don't see how people deserve compensation for something that didn't happen to them- their parents- or even their grandparents.

[Pinocchio Liberal 268]

There's those darned apologies again! Whats it been 100 years ago? I'm sure that will set things right,wont it?

Monetary reparations? That I'm sure will bring on the ability to forget slavery. Geeez, forget it its over. Although it will never happen. Al Sharpton and good ol Jesse Jackson will make sure of that. After all they draw their pay checks keeping the whoa is me I'm black thing goin.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Well on the one side you have a symbolic gesture - which costs nothing. Considering that one of the Southern States didn't actually take slavery off its statute books until the 1990's (It had been rendered obsolete by other laws by then) - I don't see the problem with recognising the fact that slavery, and the short lifespan of the civil rights movement is responsible for significant social disparities between different cultural/ethnic groups.

As for direct reparations - I think there's only a case for that if the people directly affected were still alive. As that's no longer the case - the money is better off being put into social programmes to help the urban poor.

[Fuzzness 2]

What about reparations to the native americans whose lands were taken away from them and forced them to march a thousand miles to a new "reservation" is that not just as bad as what was done to the slaves?

[Ban Hammer 13,346]

ok, who brought this fossil back to life?

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

What about reparations to the native americans whose lands were taken away from them and forced them to march a thousand miles to a new "reservation" is that not just as bad as what was done to the slaves?

Pretty much.

[Marilyn. 340]

so.... it has gotten more posts this time around...

I can understand dragging up topics that are outdated or are not relevant anymore... but the topic still seems to be relevant...

ok, who brought this fossil back to life?

[Sinergy 3]

I agree slavery should be let go, it was A LONG LONG LONG TIME AGO.

I remember when i was in 7th grade social studies, our teacher began talking about slavery and stuff. well i was 1 of 2 white girls in my class. The word slavery came up and the black girls went nuts. Yelling at me and the other girl for putting them thru slavery bla bla bla. I made it very clear that i was not alive during slavery and that it was pointless and useless to yell at me for it. and i got beat up right in class bc i wouldnt apologize for slavery LOL

[Clarky and Tarah 0]

The lawmaker might have said it a little bluntly, but I think he's right. What good would paying reparations do? Lining the pockets of people who weren't even alive at the time won't change history. We need to move on and stop letting slavery be a barrier between races.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

I think its all well and good saying that people should 'get over slavery' - but given that slavery and the issues arising out of it (and considering that while slavery happened very many years ago, the civil rights movement isn't really all that old in comparison) how exactly do we do that, and how do we know when we've done it?

As much as I don't think there's a justification for paying direct reparations to people who weren't directly affected by it, we shouldn't try to pretend that a pronounced racial/economic divide doesn't exist.

[thetreble 19]

Reparations could be put towards, as someone said, social programs to help the urban poor. How can you rule them out when tons of other countries have given reparations to those who are ancestors of victims of atrocities.

Everyone is saying what will money do to people who weren't products of slavery or were not directly affected. The point is, is that some were/are affected and society today is a product of its past. Some of the social disparities can be linked to this awful time.

I want people to stop throwing it around, to be honest, just like many of you. I want people to stop using it as an excuse for some things in their lives. I want it to stop being the barrier that has always been put up between the races on this side of the pond. However, as a gesture, an apology should AT LEAST be made by the government (not by you and i).