My views

[Hmph]

Without knowing your history, you can never understand the present.

What I hate about this topic is hearing: there are no surviving slaves left, and from the same individuals enjoying the comforts and privileges created by the British slave trade/rule, which existed long until the 1980s. Because the year has changed, somehow the mentality has changed? The only thing that's changed is the laws are being enforced. However, some feelings will never change, as evident by the existence of hate groups which still exist under the name of "god" (Deut. 28, which ironicallly describes their own hate and their outcome) and how we all live, and where.

But my primary opinion about this issue: http://tam-ra.us/admired1.php#Slaves

When you take the time to learn what was intended vs. what certain politicians did in their power to prevent equality and fairness, then maybe people can start seriously start talking about this issue.

For example, it's assumed that "slavery" was accepted by all, a "way of life". Yet, NY Gov. William Seward, and later Sec. of State for Lincoln hid slaves in his home to help them become free. Union Gen. William Sherman sat with local black ministers after the confederacy surrendered and mapped out a section of land from SC to Florida, along with a mule for each family for their 40 acres of land.

President Andrew Johnson later overturned this AFTER it was already established and in place and gave the land back to the slave masters, refused to grant blacks the right to vote and very little was done to protect blacks after the civil war. I personally blame him for "freeing the bird with a brick tied to each of his wings" and allowing public hate to be displayed for over a hundred more years. Johnson stated it was too costly to afford rights to blacks, thus further dimenishing their value as humans and creating the environment of separate but certainly not equal.

To me, the last part of slavery ended in the 1990s, after the last part of the civil rights act was signed, ironically by Reagan.

What also bothers me is that under Dutch rule, just prior to the British rule/horrific slave trade of the mid 1700's, blacks had rights, including in court, were freed and paid indentured servants. Imagine what this country would be had the British slave trade/colonists never took place.

[Hmph]

now if this isn't the funniest thing, yet saddest thing: european americans who immigrated here during the most dehumanizing times for african-americans and who were afforded simple luxuries not available to african-americans which allowed them to "come here with nothing and build" during oppression, complaining about "we won't pay".

http://wewontpay.com

to me this is the equivalent of migrating to Berlin during Hitler's reign while he was distinguishing jews and taking advantage of jobs and housing only available to Germans after they were taken from or denied to jews.

[Marcus]

The problem is understanding. I hear more excuses about "not paying" than attempts 2 understand.

The guy from wewontpay.com is just another immigrant jerk who helped walk on my ancestors who were already being stepped on. Coming here during that time & just ignoring prob is the same as those who made problem exist 4 so long.

A black man who serves in the military & during a war can come back home & be treated like an animal with no rights. Educated & only job allowed if @ all is waiter, bus boy or porter. But the white immigrant had every door opened upon arrival. Even organized crime boss & respected in his community with help from local politicians.

[Silly Wabbit]

People don't want to understand. There is a large amount of information available. But european immigrants would rather spend time arguing against it than try to understand how they also played a part in the problem. It is insulting that many came here during the darkest days for African-Americans.

Opportunities were endless for them upon arrival, while limits were still set for African-Americans.

& yes u're right. I don't think there would have been a mass migration to Germany during Hitler's reign. The way he treated jews was no different from lack of civil rights for blacks throughout the US

[RangerBob]

The way he treated jews was no different from lack of civil rights for blacks throughout the US

WHAT???? Are you kidding me???????? I will never minimize what happened to Blacks when they were brought here in chains, but that ABSOLUTELY pales in comparison to what Hitler did to the Jews. 6.5 MILLION Jews were MURDERED by that madman!

Setting aside the denial of civil rights to the slaves... they were still alive. Generations of Jewish families were eliminated and future generations denied by their extermination... in the most cruel and inhumane fashions imaginable. It was pure genocide - something that is now, unfortunately, happening in Africa right under our noses to this very day...

[Hmph]

actually over 100 million slaves were lost or killed in the british slave trade which lasted from mid 1700's until the mid 1800's. you know that infamous pic of slaves laid out in the belly of the ship like meat -- started under british slave rule. you should check out HBO's production of The Middle Passage if you can rent it.

or can you lay for 3 months or more in one spot, have food thrown down on you through hole, pray for water to overflow from the sea so you can drink or sleep next to dead body until they next set of dead are thrown over, or as a woman, unchained primarily for sex?

aetna also insured the slave owner for the losses. so we're talking over a hundred years vs. just during hitler's reign as chancellor of germany. and also the numbers of jews living in that area or continually disputed, esp. since no valid census was taken. whereas insured losses of slaves as cattle are documented.

see the problem is africans had rights prior to the british ruled slave trade. all rights were removed and the possibility of serving out their paid indentured servitude under dutch rule went away. blacks had their own land under dutch rule. and could even sue whites in court and win if their property was damaged for any reason, but ironically not race related. the original settlers had a different plan for society here. then along comes Britain with dreams of riches from exports. over 50 years of presidency involved presidents owning and operating slaves.

the NYSE, AETNA, JP morgan and other financial institutions began as a result of the "slave auction blocks" to sell slaves as stock, further confirming they're no longer human.

(and let's not forget the next 100++ years from 1870s to 1980s which involved repeated lynchings and murders with not one law to protect african-americans. in fact many klansmen were judges, cops or prosecutors. what's interesting is the number of lynchings started to decline dramatically in the 1970's)

there's a lot of documented information. both holocaust and slavery were both avoidable tragedies, however, so was the treatment of native americans, japanese americans and others, who ironically have been compensated for the harm done. but when it comes to african-americans, because of the beliefs started under british rule of colonies/slaves, the back seem to be turned when it comes to money and african-americans. I'm guessing the reason being: the end of slavery meant the end of their profits.

can you imagine if you made millions during the slave trade? that money is still alive in banking institutions and helping their generations to live comfortably.

[Makewayz]

This is a very interesting read. But I must say, I don't expect to get anything. It's just a sad situation, and basically I feel like this ...

When life gives you lemons, you make lemonade.

[Hmph]

yeah and their lemonade stand was burned down, or the lemonade stand owner is hung by a tree from 1870 until 1980's so i guess you find a way to make ashes sell or funerals a money making business for victims??

[Makewayz]

I'm sorry to laugh in this topic ... but that there response was a cackle.

[Hmph]

it is true though, you almost have to laugh at the irony behind it. because for every situation in which someone tried to better themself during that time frame, so many doors and obstacles in the way, and ironically by same folks who don't think reparations is necessary because their migration here involved open doors.