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It's not about the money. Maybe it is for al sharpton and rev Jackson, but for most African-American's like myself it has nothing to do with money. It's really about respect. If the government was to offer a formal apology for the slave trade hundreds of years ago, that would be good enough for me. If I was giving a check today for reparations, I would probably tear it up. People already think African-Americans get preferable treatment, the last thing I need is to be getting checks from the government on this issue.
And another thing, to those who think that everything is equal now, you really need to wake up. I can tell you from experience, that I have to work twice as hard as a white man to get the same things. And it's not just African-Americans, it's women, hispanics and other minorities. My point is that, some people think that when African-Americans complain about unfair treatment, they are just being lazy. While that might be true with some people, don't hold all of us to that standard. A lot of us are being unfairly treated.
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Quote:
Originally posted here by g0t r00t
And another thing, to those who think that everything is equal now, you really need to wake up. I can tell you from experience, that I have to work twice as hard as a white man to get the same things.
Even if that were true, (and I honestly do not believe it to be true, as a whole, in our country) what's your point?
I had to work harder to start up my business than someone that had rich parents would have. If my parents had been rich, they could have given me a few million to start things up, and my life would have been a lot easier.
Intelligent people don't have to work as hard in school as dumb people do.
Some people don't have to watch their weight at all, while others have to work constantly to keep off the pounds.
And yes, blacks and other racial minorites face discrimination by SOME in our society.
No one has ever said that life's fair. We all don't start out on the same foot when we enter this world. But, we live in a country that doesn't limit where any of us can end up. That, at it's very basic level, is what makes this country so amazing.....
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It's one thing to have to work harder because you're not as rich as someone, but it's a totally different thing to have to work harder because of the color of your skin, gender or sexual orientation. You're right that life isn't fair but that can't be an excuse for discrimination.
Oh yeah, one more thing. Before people start thinking that I hate all white people....I really believe that the majority of society is sickened by discrimination. I think that the KKK and other small minded people misrepresent the majority of people in the US.
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Rebuttal
Nth I would like to clarify something. You responded that your grandparents owned acreage and lost it to the government as a reply to mine for why? The difference between our posts (notice I do not say between us) is that my description of my Grandparents was merely to praise them. They lost their farm in the depression and moved to town to work in the shoe factories. I don't blame the shoe factories for exploiting them. My grandparents didn't either. The company got rich, my grandparents struggled on. They are better people than I even aspire to be.
Your remembrance seems to be fully tainted with venom and anger. I am sorry for that. I hope that is your post and your point and not your memory of your grand parents.
Now I do believe that African Americans have it harder than whites still. I believe that there still needs to be a continuing shift in attitude to where skin color does not make a difference in the value of a man. That is one reason I did not, in my post, compare African Americans to whites today but rather to other immigrants. Yes I believe that education, which is no longer denied, is important to any race. You cannot claim the problems you grand parents did. I never claimed them from mine, I felt I demonstrated how they pushed so their children would benefit from their work and difficulties rather than be sucked down into the same hard life they led. They taught education from an early age and they sacrificed to make sure their children gained it. It wasn't easy, my father worked hard, my mother worked hard, we lived a poor life for many years so he could complete his education. I was very young so please understand I do not remember the harder times and my parents have rarely dwelt upon them except to discuss how it brought them closer.
There is racism in America but putting a tax on people for things done in the past is wrong. Instead we need to keep educating people about the stupidity of racism, any racism. That includes unconditional hatred or anger towards whites as well. Under the skin we are all the same color, in the eyes of God we are all the same. Yes, we have not learned to live our lives by this truth but lets work to bring unity rather than pass laws which make a point but still work to divide.
If I might draw a parallel. When I argue with my wife it will go on and on and on as long as we both refuse to let our advantage or argument go. When one side or the other takes the high ground and decides to bring peace rather than their viewpoint then the argument ends. If both decide to do this it ends by our growing closer. The sooner we end these types of arguments and come together as one people the sooner we can achieve the equality that African Americans deserve and have certainly earned.
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SodaMoco I was just pointing out that my grandparents despite thier miseducation worked hard to get where they are now even with those set backs...I think they achieved alot more then myself and I'm still trying to finish college :)
I think alot of African American are more upset with the fact like Got Root said we were never given a formal apology. we were not asked weather or not we wanted to become a citizen but made second class citizen by the emacipation proclomation under a constitution that was supposed to protect its citizens from injustices. I not angry and I'll try and look at this debate from both sides... that is all I ask of anyone reading this thread.
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I am sickened not only by the article but some of the views held by people in this forum. African Americans and other races built this country's economy while shackled by the european settlers who beleived in a government that was based on hypocricy. They waited over 400 years for equal rights. Even today most of you have no clue what really goes on in the real world. You talk as if this was eons ago, but it wasn't. You act as if these injustices are gone, but the consequences of those actions are clearly apparant today. Now you're mad because the family fortune your ancestors got from trading and sellin people like pokemon cards is gonna get skimmed a bit. Get a concience.
I am not asking for reparations from white people, but from the government of the United States. It alone is responsible for what happened then. I gotta go but I'll be back to finish
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ReddFoxx321, obvisously you have forgotten that the government raises funds for such programs, such as reperations, through taxes on all citizens. Either that or they had better have one bigass bake sale.
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And I think many people don't understand the full issue. Yes, an apology is owed, and I'll be the first to make it. I have no idea if my family owned slaves, but I don't think so. And the American Government should apologize. I mean, how hard is it?
Second, the 40 acres and a mule. Freed blacks were promised it, as granted as a field order by General Sherman. Andrew Johnson revoked it, and seized the land back. Blacks merely want reparations for that, and it's understandable. We give back land to the Native Americans, the Jewish are receiving money from the Germans and Swiss. Just fair compensation for what was given, and then seized back.
And the government would not be cutting every African American slave descendant a check. Instead, a commitee (probably the one heading up the reparations legislations) will hold the money in a trust, and claims will be made toward it. The idea has merit. And as long as it's carried out well, it should work fine.
http://usaweekend.com/02_issues/0208...parations.html
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Good post DarkGuardian. You're right, I don't think many people fully understand the arguement. I don't think that every person who's family owned slaves should apologize. I do however believe the Government should though, because it was the government that allowed it. As far as the 40 acres are concerned, I don't care too much about that. I mean, when you really think about it, all that land really belongs to the Native Americans, so I don't feel comfortable claiming that the US gov. owes me 40 acres.
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Against my better judgment...I'm going to post to this thread.
Are minorites equal in today's society? No, maybe not. Is that my fault? No it isn't. Did my ancestors own slaves? I don't know. Do I own slaves? No. Therefore I have nothing to apologize for. You say you want an apology from the government? Well guess what! The people that run the show now are NOT the same people that condoned slavery. The thing is, there is noone alive today that took part in slavery, so who do you want an apology from? Why should they apologize to you anyway? Are you a slave? No, you're not. Get over it.
Is there racism? Yes. Are minorities treated unfairly sometimes? Yes. If you want to be angry about this, then that's fine. Be angry, you have every right.
Bad things happen to good people. That's life, and it sucks. Sitting around whining about it won't help you or anyone else. Pick yourself up, and keep on marching.
