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Originally Posted by knot_e_lady  It did happen a long time ago. No one alive today has been directly affected by slavery itself. By continuing to let it affect your life is giving it credence. And I would like to point out, you said 'Holocaust survivor'. There are no slavery survivors left alive now.
No, don't forget, but let it go.
I'm a strong believer in not letting bad things that might have happened to you affect your life. If someone does something horrible to you, how is hating or being angry at that person affecting him? It's not, but it's really screwing up your life, isn't it? The person you hate could care less, if they know at all.
My sister was murdered 30 years ago. I do not hate the men that did it. What good would it do? And what harm would it do me? |
People alive today are affected by our country's past in slavery and racism, and many more generations will be affected if nothing is done. For the most part, the conditions the majority of the African-American population find themselves (poor inner-city, poor education, etc.) is mostly manifest from the causes and conditions laid out by our country's history in racism.
They deserve reparations, along with Native Americans, because they continue to suffer by this wrong that has yet to be put to right. I personally believe the best way of giving reparations is providing them with top-notch education; something that should already be happening in all public schools anyway.
And even if they weren't being effected directly by it, the government of the United States still owes them, along with the Native Americans. The fact that there is no one left alive from slavery is irrelevant. There was still a wrong committed and those families still deserve justice.