White Americans Fail to Address Their Family Histories

[JustAnotherGen]

69. I understand your point

I don't really care about slavery. I seriously don't. That said - I descend from Enslaved Americans (earliest footprint is a Sale of body from VA to Alabama - disruptive slave sent down the river). I also descend from Natives, French, German Protestants and Jews, and Scots/Irish.

My father lived and died as a very dark skinned black man - one of 10 children born and raised in the deep south. His mother was mixed like me - and found the blackest man she could find in 1918 to take the stain of whiteness (blue eyes, straight here) away from her children. My mom is German, French, Scots/Irish.

My experience is solely that of a black woman - as I've never been called a slur by a black American - only by white Americans.

That said -

My issue is the New Deal. January 1, 1933 to the 'on paper' banning of Red Lining in 1968. In that 35 years my father's family were high earners. The owned their own farms, business, liquor making, bars, etc. etc. Fed up with separate but unequal - my Grand Daddy built his children a modern school - that was actually better than the white folks in that town in Alabama. He was one of the highest property tax payers in the state for decades -

But his children - were not allowed to go to white STATE aka Public Universities.
The highways he paid for - well he could drive down them - but where would he stay?
The GI Bill his taxes went for - his oldest son in law was NOT allowed to participate because he was black.
His son, my dad was already a decorated Military Officer and Green Beret in 1964 when he was home on leave - during the 1964 election. It was too dangerous for the stand up straight patriot to vote in Alabama that year.


Those are just 4 things.

I'm like you - who cares about all of those dead people? I don't want to pay reparations for slavery either.

But you know what? My dad's four oldest siblings are STILL alive.
I'm the youngest of 33 grandchildren - and many of my cousins were VERY much alive in the 1950's and 1960's.

Those folks aren't dead.

I'd like a 35 year 5% tax break if you, your parent, or grandparent was on the Census in 1930, 1940, 1950, 1960 or 1970 as Negro/Black. You get to claim it for 35 years - and it either sunsets out or you die.

See here's my thing -

It's not my fault your family immigrated and were poor.
The chose to immigrate.
It's not my problem that they didn't pay the almost 50% in income taxes my grandfather did in the Eisenhower era.

He paid it - and they got all of the benefits - whether it was direct or not. My 4 aunts and uncles still alive paid it.

I want my pound of flesh. My family built this country, predate the descendants of MILLIONS of Ellis Island Era immigrants, sacrificed more, paid more and got less.

I want my tax credit. It's owed us.