Should African Americans be given repirations for slavery and discrimination?

amen!

Well, yes, I believe that in some sense, but it is a lot harder to get a job when you are black than if you are white. Why do you think this is? Should affirmative action be used, in your opinion?

Well, yes, I believe that in some sense, but it is a lot harder to get a job when you are black than if you are white. Why do you think this is? Should affirmative action be used, in your opinion?

Well, yes, I believe that in some sense, but it is a lot harder to get a job when you are black than if you are white. Why do you think this is? Should affirmative action be used, in your opinion?

I disagree with this because I know the head of the fire department in one of the cities by myself and he said a black man got hired over a white man just because he was black. Now you say, "that is not true". Well it is because the white man and black man went to the same college and the white man had better grades and a better application. The white man also scored higher in picking the person for the job. So in other words a less qualified firefighter is out there than who should be out there.

I highly disagree... living relatives should be paid because black people are still facing issues that came from slavery. The racism that started slavery is still here today.

That's true, it does still exist. Sadly enough just last week on another discussion board I use, some idiot was telling racist jokes. Of course, it's easier for people to say things over a computer, with no consequences. If it'd been in person, he would have gotten his a$$ kicked.

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You people? That's a messed up thing to say, and so if "your head is in the way". Not that people should be anal probed, either though. And not that I believe in aliens, either.

If you people is not correct please give me guidance. A properly installed anal probe really comes in handy when a safari through this jungle of prsonalities and strange thought processes become necessary.

"You people" is degrading. And the thought processes are "strange" only b/c it's not what YOU'RE used to.

Sorry about that, how does you folks fly? There is really no need to get all lathered up it won't change anything and know body really cares what you think except maybe those people.

I don't know if the us ever "paid" for slavery. if you know of any payouts please let me know. I've never heard of any. I do know that because of slavery, the industrial revolution in American was jump started ( the cotton gin helped), and I know that lots of blaks once out of slavery and allowed to read and be educated ( in case you didn't know they were lynched - which is being burnt, and mutialted then hung in public while whites picnic and watch for being caught with a book let alone actually reading it!) there were lots of contributions that help make this world a better place. so I know that the world had contributed from blacks even in music with out the slaves there'd be no rock and roll ( admit it naturally-whites go on the 1,3 beat and blacks the 2,4 beat)and where would we be without that! let's admit that most white don't think blacks did anything therefore arent owed anything and let's go one with our lives.

That's a good point. Do you think that if people were given no opportunities, though, that would make them work harder to succeed or would they just give up? Perhaps, if money were given as a grant, with the intent to start their own business or pay for college, or something, would it be okay then? I agree that if you think you're a victim, you will probably act like one, though.

I've heard this too. The problem is a lot of African Americans expect to get a hand out for something that happened many years ago. As far as jobs and such, affirmative action is still going on today and to me that is wrong. It should be the better qualified, not because of your skin color.

I think it should also be best qualified, but the problem is, most are not better qualified and it's not their fault, they haven't been able to afford the training and college education needed to "get ahead". That's why I think that scholarships would be an excellent idea.

I think scholarships sound like a great idea and you should be put in charge of distributing them since you seem to be such a fair minded level headed person. From reading your comments you have certainly shown yourself to be extremely unbiased and even handed. I think you are a shinning example of what this country needs more of.

Oh thank you. And "shinning" should be "shining" by the way.

How can people get over it? Racism is a big issue for African Americans today. Then you have to think where it started... slavery.

First of all, rascism is happening all over the world and not just african americans. Are we expected to pay everyone who ever suffered because of slavery. Slavery happened to all races, not just african americans.

No it is not racism it is boigotry. Mostly it is ethnic bigotry, religious bigotry and bigotry against anything you don't believe in.

Yes I would like to hear that one. Just where did slavery start? Since we seem to have an expert on board, please tell us.

You make a good point when you ask why should descendants of slaveowners have to pay? It isn't like these people actually did anything, although their relatives did. It would have been good to do at the time slavery ended, but unfortunately that didn't happen. There should be harsh fees though for people who discriminate now, though, I feel strongly about that.

Money would be the only way to makeup for any injustice to blacks and Indians... Why? The government would NEVER give back the land they took. They can never makeup for the problems slavery has caused for African Americans today. They definitely can never makeup for the abuse that black people had to deal with because of slavery.

If the government rightfully repaid everyone... they would lose control over this country. Now why would the government give up power? So money is the payoff -- it's easier for the government to pay people off. Rather then give back what's really owed.

I agree with another poster on here, who said that educational grants should be given, to create more chances and opportunities for the African American community to succeed. Unfortunately, I don't think money would neccessarily be the best choice, since it may get spent unwisely.

mssmith, why just the blacks and indians? At sometime or another throughout history ALL races have been slaves or discriminated. As far as land being taken away, throughout history land has been taken away from someone. The romans did it many centuries ago and it probably will continue. It's not just the US.

I think the government has pretty muched raped anyone who is not light skinned. IT'S WRONG. As a result, the minorities are expected to suffer while white men live in huge houses they don't need (who really needs 7 bedrooms, unless you have 6 kids? even then, LEARN TO SHARE) and if a minority is lucky enough to get a job cleaning that house, they are not getting paid a living wage that they earned and deserve.

You have just defined yourself as being a racist bigot by the statement you just made. Perhaps you need to do a little soul searching. I think in your case a little dose of christain principals might come in handy.

F*** Christianity.

Now that wasen't very christain of you. You need to get down on your knee's and ask jesus for forgivness.

Jesus needs to get down on his knees and suck my c0ck.

first of all ( not that you care)you should not be disrepectful to any religion regardless to how you feel about it. It is not your place to say such things,and Jesus is has not been included in the discussion yet. I am a Christian and I am offended by your comments. and even though I don't agree with what you've said I haven't spoken negatively about you, mostly because I don't know you. and since you don't observe Christianity you don't know Jesus, so you don't have a right to judge him.

I think that sounds a bit racist, with the "loin cloth" bit. I don't think many people would want to go back, but if you were forced to come somewhere, shouldn't you be given opportunities now that you're here?

Your a perfect example of what slavery has done! Racism wins and continues to produce people like you. Your the answer to why African Americans should be repaid -- because we are dealing with racist remarks and people such as you daily.

Yes I am a racist and you probably are also. Have you actually ever looked up the real meaning of racist. I believe the word you are looking for is bigot. If your going to jump in the middle of someones crapp try to get your facts straight. They are not afro americans thier just plain americans like all the rest of us. If it hadn't been for slavery they would not be here because they didn't have the money for a boat ticket.Of all the black people I have known, I never met one who wanted to go live in africa. I have known more black people than most black people know. Slavery still thrives in many places in the world including the US, so why don't you make that your cause, it would be more realistic.

Okay, you asked for it, since you know so much.

Racist

a belief or doctrine that inherent differences among the various human races determine cultural or individual achievement, usually involving the idea that one's own race is superior and has the right to rule others.

2. a policy, system of government, etc., based upon or fostering such a doctrine; discrimination.

3. hatred or intolerance of another race or other races.

Bigot

a person who is utterly intolerant of any differing creed, belief, or opinion.

They basically sound like the same thing to me.

A belief that human races have distinctive characteristics that determine thier respective cultures. This is the actuall meaning the next part is "usually" which is not really part of the meaning but an add on to lend to people who want to use racism in a derogatory way. Racism is a description of people who have difinably different phyisical characteristics and no more. I am a racist but I do not believe it has any thing to do with superior or inferior qualities. The proper teminology would be racial bigots. I am glad the aliens passed you up for an anal probe.

By the way when did you first discover that I knew so much? This is a pretty tightly held government secret and not privy to the commen person. You could be rquired by law to disclose who is leaking this information.

Okay, A) you're a nerd and B) what's your obsession with anal probes? Were you raped as a child?

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if Africa was still in its beutiful state it was in before slavery and beore Europeans found all its riches and robbed and raped the land ( exploitation of people and land) then yes I would want to go back, wait.... I would've never left if Europe hadn't been so greedy!

Were the Jewish peoples paid? I didn't realize that. I am glad you bring up Native Americans, that is a valid point, they were also abused and the white man tried to enslave them but it didn't work (except they were pushed onto reservations).

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I'm not saying it should neccessarily be monetary funds. I think there should be more special grants and scholarships for minorities and for low-income areas. I was watching on Oprah the other night (did anyone see this BTW) about classism, and a white richy mom was admitting that she moved to a good neighborhood when her kids were SIX YEARS OLD because she "knew" that it would look better on their college applications if they came from an upper class part of town instead of the working class part of town. And it's true and it's MESSED UP. You should be able to, if you have good grades and ambition, get into any college you want if you work hard and are driven for success. It shouldn't matter what color your skin is or that you grew up in the ghetto.

First your saying then your not saying I feel you don't have any real idea of what you are saying. You seem to have some kind of hate wick going for white people. I don't think that is very kind of you.

what if we left the "white " part out? would that be easier for you to digest? it's not a thing that's directly against whites. some whites think that they ae so important that they are being called on to give to the poor, downtrotten blacks. that's not it. the point is that a group of people feel that they have been mistreated by another group of people and they want some form of group acknowledgement for the wrong. that's all. In America the subject just happens to be slave reparations. and since the slaves were black and the owners white it them becomes a race issue. and not until then. the group that's being blamed has every right to deny any wrong doing ( that's the great thing about America) if you don't think the treatment of a lot of the slaves ( Phyllis Wheatley wrote books while she was a slave but she's only one in a million)here in America was wrong then you are entitled to your opinion. Most of us think that the treatment was often inhumane. and because it was shrugged off ( like what you're doing right now " slavery happens all the time!") things like the tuskeegee syphillis experiement
(if you don't know about it look it up)happened and keep happening to blacks. I can't tell you about your experiences related to your race, so don't try to tell me about mine. blacks are still mistreated even us with jobs and education. be black for a year ( and I'm not talking about acting like a rap artist because we do not all act like that)and them tell us what you think.

The difference is that the people who received the reparations were actually VICTIMS of the thing for which they received reparations.

Why should I pay for something that I had nothing to do with? None of my ancestors owned slaves. And I certainly never owned slaves. Are you going to enslave everyone monetarily because of something that happened before you were even around?

Look at it like this: Let's say I rob you, and then your cousin shows up and demands that I pay HIM for what I did to YOU. Does that make sense?

Well, you've got a point but the government allowed slavery to continue so they should pay for it, but then again, the taxpayers would be the one who actually gets the bill, unfortunately

native americans have been repaid that what indian reservations are...the goverment gave them land....as for paying back african americans no that was so long ago and why make people that had nothing to do with owning a slave pay for it as sndcain said

I don't think that pushing Native Americans off their land onto the space that the white man said is okay for them is paying them back, like you say. Technically the Indians were here first, the white people should be the ones being forced onto reservations.

What about the diseases they put in the blankets they gave to the Native Americans? Was that helping them too?

If we taxed all the white people to pay the black people wouldn't that be discrimination?

Native American Indians were repaid by being shoved into reservations? That is definitely not repayment. How can the US repay someone who owned land first ... that they took from them? They repay them by giving them a small area, and say stay there? That's not right ...

The ignorance of people about real history is mindboggling. Your facts and your statments sound like something right out of a hollywood movie studio. Good god go back to school and learn somthing.

you know in manitoba most indian reservations are utterly disgusting no joke the houses are run done the ppl are disgusting and throw thier garbage in the rivers there is more violence on reserves here its sad so yea they have thier piece of land to be disgusting on...im not saying all natives are like that but if they claimed all the land back wtf would it look like?

and most of them dont work live off goverment money....

Native Americans have had their lives stripped of them, and have been forced to live in special areas that the government "gave" to them. I can understand your feelings about the dirty lifestyle, etc. but this all they have. I am sure if they had a nice house and nice things like other people, they'd treat it better. But if you live in a trash can, why wash it out, you know? It's not going to get any better.

You really have big misconceotion about human nature. I must say you are very unknowledgable about real american history or maybe history in general. Why don't you go to school and major in history and then your thoughts and ideas might have some substance.

You really have big "misconceotion" about spelling. That is "misconception", my friend. And I am in school, but I want to be a research attorney or court reporter not a history major.

I don't remember Italian, Irish or Japanese Americans being enslaved, certaintly not in the way that African Americans were.

When they start all this pay back, how much do you want them to take out of your pay check?

I would be willing to have something come out of my check. Shoot, even if everyone paid $1 - $2 per paycheck to go to a scholarship fund intended for minorities and low income, that'd be a lot of money after a while.

Why don't you become a leader and make an example of your self and contribute, say, one third of your pay check. That would really make you feel like your doing your part and give others incentive.

working I like that idea. most educated blacks don't want something ( cash) just for ourselves in the idea of reparations. having a national college fund or business fund that suppliments what is given in financial aid or business loans through sba would be great. what state are you in? we should present this idea to are legislators.

That is a good idea, with the organizations. Something that could actually help people.

That is a good idea, with the organizations. Something that could actually help people.