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Showing Original Post only (View all)Should we pay Reparations for Slavery? [View all]
Western wealth is built on slavery. Of that there can be no doubt. Enslavement as happened to African people and those of African descent is something different and unparalleled in human history. Those who seek reparations talk about the ongoing effects of slavery within certain communities. That inter-generational transmission of trauma has a significant effect still today the descendants of the enslaved have described this as a lack of connection, a lack of identity, a lack of nationhood, a lack of feeling rooted, or being treated as a minority community when in reality they are from global majority populations. It is about having second class status and citizenship wherever the enslaved descendants have been located as a result of the dispersal and de-population that happened originally in Africa.
Slavery and genocide have impacted, not only the historical populations that were kidnapped from Africa, but also the descendants of the enslaved today. It is not only about trauma and multi-generational oppression but also about the unjust enrichment to nations due to slavery, coupled with unjust impoverishment which has been passed on throughout the generations of the enslaved descendants.
A big part of the legacy of slavery is surely this high level of inequality that can be seen today between the descendants of the enslavers and the descendants of the enslaved.
The empowerment and enrichment of the US and the UK, to name 2 nations, came from enslavement, colonialism and ill-gotten gains. Should we not, if we want to be an equal and fair society, balance the books?
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So since there would be details as with every other resolution and issue on earth, you ignore it?
Eliot Rosewater
Nov 2018
#61
I agree there. Greater investment and shifting resources into minority communities.
smirkymonkey
Nov 2018
#13
To be fair, the Royal Navy did do some nice things for slaves after that:
Pope George Ringo II
Nov 2018
#102
The United Nations says we should, and I agree. Reparations can take many forms.
Garrett78
Nov 2018
#15
How do you determine who gets paid? What about Native Americans? No. It's better to
Autumn
Nov 2018
#16
So we know who? No I'm still against it. Instead of paying the individuals for what their
Autumn
Nov 2018
#75
Investing in the black community with college scholarships, small business grants...
brush
Nov 2018
#79
I'm a Latina so I don't see this from a privileged comfort zone. Yes our country
Autumn
Nov 2018
#84
So do the descendents of slaves, native Americans, and Mexican immigrants
Drahthaardogs
Nov 2018
#39
Reperations to Japanese and Jewish people were to those that were actually interned
MichMan
Nov 2018
#100
Native Americans ought to be first in line. Without their stolen land, there'd be no western wealth.
Kaleva
Nov 2018
#23
So what'ts up? You're in favor of reparations for Native Americans but not African Americans?
brush
Nov 2018
#78
It's rather racist to exclude Native Americans in any discussion about Reparations.
Kaleva
Nov 2018
#47
It is a much better investment in our society than tax cuts for corporations
unitedwethrive
Nov 2018
#25
True, and the claimants were easily identifiable. Yet, whenever the issue of reparations...
VOX
Nov 2018
#138
I see, like healthcare he was supposed to fix what 200 years of non POC prez could
Eliot Rosewater
Nov 2018
#121
So it was impossible for him to advocate for them if he believed they were necessary?
brooklynite
Nov 2018
#127
I thought you were the insider, you knew so much about politics, surely if you do you realize
Eliot Rosewater
Nov 2018
#129
and you and I both know why, in this very racist country, mostly from the right
Eliot Rosewater
Nov 2018
#134
anytime I see someone go OUT OF THEIR Way to post something that can easily be construed as
Eliot Rosewater
Nov 2018
#162
Yes, in the form of the very best education and job training in impoverished areas of this country
flibbitygiblets
Nov 2018
#77
not just for slavery. the reason for reparations would have more to do with what happened
JI7
Nov 2018
#85
Your premises are not wholly correct. Not all western wealth was built on slavery.
wasupaloopa
Nov 2018
#87
YES. Please read Ta-Nehisi Coates' 2014 "The Atlantic" article, "The Case for Reparations." (link)
VOX
Nov 2018
#131