I read a closed question asking why white people don't apologize for slavery. I'm a direct descendent of John Rolfe & Pocahantas. My ancestors fought on both sides of the civil war. Some owned slaves. Some were slaves. Some were indentured servants. Some were land owners who had indentured servants. I wasn't victimized like some of my ancestors; nor did I victimize people like some of my other ancestors. I don't want apology for what happened to my less fortunate ancestors (my life is better for what they went through). I don't want credit for anything my ancestors achieved (it wasn't me who did the achieving); nor do I deserve blame for anything my ancestors have done wrong. \n\nSo.. no, I don't owe you an apology. You don't owe me one either. God bless you.. get on with your life & stop looking for excuses.
214469
well unless you have slaves yourself you don't owe me anything but the respect that i deserve as a man.many of our ancestors did things that don't make us proud but last time i checked i didn't have any warrants for stealing horses how bout you...
520426
Ebonics the new American language.The teacher should of sent them to the principles office, let them teach them how to speak proper English.Then the teacher is not libel.White people take the blame for their ancestors enslavement.When there own people in slaved them in Africa first.I'm not justifying the wrong,any enslavement is wrong.Just quit blaming the cracker for all your ills.
637476
No, I own my own business and am obviously older than you.\n\nFirst, study your history.\nBlack slaves were more physically capable than whites or Indians and quickly replaced both in agriculture which demanded hard, manual labor under bad conditions. No other group as a race was as strong and productive. Without them, the South would not have benefitted from a strong cotton and sugar industry. The North that bought these products and processed them would not have been as productive either. It was only when the south threatened to go directly to Europe where prices were cheaper than the more expensive North that the slavery issue became a galvenizing force for the North to attack the more rural and agricultural south. There were still slaves in the North during this conflict so it was not just riteous indignation that spawned the liberation of the blacks.\n\nAfter the war, many blacks continued to work on the farms where they had worked their whole lives. Life was much more difficult then and it has only been in the last 100 years or so that most of our population lives in cities.\n\nAfter the war, it took all of us time to heal. Blacks, Southerners, Northerners, etc. Blacks still helped rebuild the South after the war.\n\nNow, we have a huge population that lives in cities. As a whole, I cannot definitively say that blacks are equal to the other races in productivity. Many of their decendents were brought here for their physical attributes and they have been surpressed after the war as well.\n\nI think that we are now at a cross roads. Blacks, as a race, probably have more rights than whites but have not been allowed to complete a transition that can take decades.\n\nI think most people would appreciate it if you would learn more about history and not feel so cormfortable sitting at your computer and spreading racism. You are being more lazy and hateful than those you attack.\n\nUndoubtedly, your stupid comments have hurt and alienated a good many people of all nationalities. So start using Yahoo for something productive because right now, I think America's economy would be much better off without people like you, no matter what race you are!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
232571
ROB, no one never pays for the crime America has commits against the black race, never. It the simple fact that to this day This nation has gone unpunished. I'm not talking slavery or things that are over which that can't be change. I'm talking about a country that keeps committing crimes against others and have too must pride to admit any wrong doing. That's my view as the last guy said it my be over BUT doesn't fix such crimes committed.\n\nI don't know what special treatment we had for 30 years, But a Law that supposedly give us equal rights. I'm sorry to say but were not the ones who had 400 years of the benefits from slavey nor did we heritage those benefits or have to benefit of just being white. Just go back 40 years ago to King's death for preaching truth they killed him. \n\nSo I feel ROB that my ancestor died in vain for the benefit of their slave masters descendants. Like any man, if someone in my family kill your relatives because of hate, would you have a right to be upset? Then I were to tell you get over the death of your relative that I know one of my people killed. Would you not be even more upset that the one who committed a crime against you told you to forget it? Then would you fell betrayed that he got away with it? Now imagine tens of million of your own people died or anyones people died for the benefit of the decsendants that killed them, would you not feel betrayed?
117790
If the government was going to pay descendants of former slaves, this would lead to a series of problems.\n\n1. How does the government tell who was a descendant of a former slave and who immigrated after the Civil War?\n\n2. If we are going to pay descendents of slave reparations, what about all the families (like mine) who sacrificed everything running underground railroads? These, mostly white, families often lost EVERYTHING, including their lives, when the bounty-hunters and pro-slavery forces found out who ran a station.\n\n3. What about every other indentured servant or forced laborer and their descendants?\n\n4. Who will pay for this? What about descendants of people who never owned slaves or fought against those who did?  Why should they pay?  What about those who came to America after the Civil War?  Also, since the money from the government comes from taxes, how do we know "who" exactly paid?  How do we know the descendant of a slave is just not paying more taxes to pay themselves?\n\n5. How much is the per capita reparation?  What should each person get?  Will we need, yet another, expensive bureaucracy to manage it?\n\n6. Is this a one time payment or an installment?  If so, then for how long?  Does this reparation mean other assistance programs are discontinued?  If so, which ones? Does this payment continue from generation to generation or just the current generation?  If not, why not?  If so, why?\n\n7. Should we not then demand that EVERY nation which ever held slaves or participated in their trade be forced to pay reparations?  Would it matter if they were not the same country, or a country at all, when it happened?  What about Italy who, when they were the Romans had slaves fight to the death?  What about the Greeks, or the Egyptians, or the Philistines (Palestinians), or the Syrians, or the Chinese, or pick a country? What about the Dutch who had a large role in the slave trade?  Do they not owe reparations as an accomplice in the African slavery issue?  What about the tribes in Africa who helped the Dutch get slaves?  What about those that still own slaves in Africa (Sudan is the center of modern slave trading)?\n\nThese are just a few of the questions this issue raises.
78273
See, I am in Third Grade and I love writing about the history of people that have helped me and my family see my dad was born into slavery and he also escaped to the North with Harriet Tubman. Sorry to get off track but here is a part of my report from my studies I learned that Harriet Tubman first escaped to the north by her self then she realized that if she only helped herself she would be selfish and so she made nineteen trips to the south and helped over three hundred people escape from slavery. Again sorry for getting off track but she was against slavery because she said that we should not be judged by the color of our skin and that it is very unfair for white people to own black people.My dad got some slave laws and here they are. \n\nSlave Laws\n1. No one was allowed to teach slaves how to read or write nor were they to be given books or pamphlets.\n\n2. Slaves were not allowed to buy or consume liquor without the written consent of their masters.\n\n3. Slave owners were required to feed and clothe their slaves and take care of their sick and elderly slaves. Failure to do so could result in a fine to the master.\n\n4. Slaves were not allowed to preach, except to their masters' slaves on their own plantation and in presence of white people.\n\n5. Any child who had one free parent and one slave parent was only free if the mother was the free parent.\n\n6. Slaves could not conduct business without a permit or own any personal prperty.\n\n7. Slaves were not allowed to own or have their possession weapons of any kind.\n\n8. The testimony of slaves in court was disallowed exept in those cases involving other slaves.\n\n9. It was illegal to mistreat or kill a slave unless the slave resisted punishment.\n\n10. SLaves were not allowed to strike white men or to insult them in any way.\n\n11. Slaves were never allowed to enter into any kind of legal binding contract, including contracts of marriage.\n\n12. A slave who traveled away from his own plantation had to have a pass to show as a means of identification to any white man who challenged him.\n\n13. Slaves were not allowed to swear, smoke or walk with a cane in public.\n\n14. Slaves had to step aside when whites passed them on a public street.\n\n15. It was illegal for mare than five slaves to gather together away from their own homes unless in the presence of white people.\n\n16. Slaves were not allowed to own their own animals, nor could they grow their own cotton; however, theey could have thier own gardens if thier masters allowed.\n\n17. It was illegal for a master to work his slave in the field on Sundays exept as punishment or unless he paid them for their work.\n\nI hope all the above information helps you an your school project. E-mail me and tell me if this info works or not. My e-mail address is a-maknojia@sbcglobal.net.
106765
See, I am in Third Grade and I love writing about the history of people that have helped me and my family see my dad was born into slavery and he also escaped to the North with Harriet Tubman. Sorry to get off track but here is a part of my report from my studies I learned that Harriet Tubman first escaped to the north by her self then she realized that if she only helped herself she would be selfish and so she made nineteen trips to the south and helped over three hundred people escape from slavery. Again sorry for getting off track but she was against slavery because she said that we should not be judged by the color of our skin and that it is very unfair for white people to own black people.My dad got some slave laws and here they are. \n\n                          Slave Laws\n1. No one was allowed to teach slaves how to read or write nor were they to be given books or pamphlets.\n\n2. Slaves were not allowed to buy or consume liquor without the written consent of their masters.\n\n3. Slave owners were required to feed and clothe their slaves and take care of their sick and elderly slaves. Failure to do so could result in a fine to the master.\n\n4. Slaves were not allowed to preach, except to their masters' slaves on their own plantation and in presence of white people.\n\n5. Any child who had one free parent and one slave parent was only free if the mother was the free parent.\n\n6. Slaves could not conduct business without a permit or own any personal prperty.\n\n7. Slaves were not allowed to own or have their possession weapons of any kind.\n\n8. The testimony of slaves in court was disallowed  exept in those cases involving other slaves.\n\n9. It was illegal to mistreat or kill a slave unless the slave resisted punishment.\n\n10. SLaves were not allowed to strike white men or to insult them in any way.\n\n11. Slaves were never allowed to enter into any kind of legal binding contract, including contracts of marriage.\n\n12. A slave who traveled away from his own plantation  had to have a pass to show as a means of identification to any white man who challenged him.\n\n13. Slaves were not allowed to swear, smoke or walk with a cane in public.\n\n14. Slaves had to step aside when whites passed them on a public street.\n\n15. It was illegal for mare than five slaves to gather together away from their own homes unless in the presence of white people.\n\n16. Slaves were not allowed to own their own animals, nor could they grow their own cotton; however, theey could  have thier own gardens if thier masters allowed.\n\n17. It was illegal for a master to work his slave in the field on Sundays exept as punishment or unless he paid them for their work.\n\nI hope all the above information helps you an your school project. E-mail me and tell me if this info works or not. My e-mail address is a-maknojia@sbcglobal.net.
562638
Hi...\nI think you're right, and that black people do deserve to receive some compensation for what you have been through!  I am white, but I see what all of you have been through, and still go through to this day just because of your skin color, and I think that you definitely deserve something for everything that's happened to you.  Be it now, or be it in the past...it is still well deserved.  In Canada, Natives are being taken care of and paid for the way they were treated in the past, so why don't the poor black people living in the States get the same treatment?  I hope that this works out for you, and you all receive help that you so desperately deserve.\nTake care,\nMelissa
81555
I hope you aren't saying that all whites are descendants of slave owners and all blacks are descendants of slaves.  \n\nI also hope you aren't suggesting that the way to remedy a wrong not committed against a person is to have someone who didn't commit the wrong give the person who wasn't wronged money or land.
110727
i have, even though they were my anscestors, i still say, i am sorry that that happened.  My family is black, i am white. it is not a guilt that i neccesarily carry in my own heart, it is just a true and deep human desire for me to say to someone, i am sorry that someone hurt you.\na friend looses a loved one, we say were sorry even though its not our fault the loved one died.\nwhen a race that i happen to belong to dehumanizes another race, just because of skin color? the least i can do is say, im sorry; know that "I" take no pride in that, and know that i see how it has hurt and affected millions.\n\nto those who say, well it wasnt me? it might not have been you, but you would surely say something to a friend who is hurt; \nit places no blame on you directly, takes nothing away from your pride, and promotes human understanding, all in about 3 seconds.
15732
It is true we r all created equal but many ppl seem not 2 care.\nRacism has been around since the begining of time. We can't help that; but in a sense "people" don't learn til it happens to them.\nI knew a girl who said nasty things bout me because of where i lived. a few days after the same was said to her cause of her skin colour. Only then did she learn.\n\nIf America is know as the land of the free, why r ppl still "enslaved"!\n\nWe must 'do onto others as we would have them do onto us'.
460384
man i have been there. \nHere is a trick, start with "Slavery destroyed more families than anything else in america". then write your ass off. you will get sympathy instead of facts.
549682
For God's sake - when will all this whining and whinging end?  Why should the people of today be responsible for the actions of people hundreds of years ago.  You cannot equate the culture and way of life during the times of slavery with the world we live in today.  The African people themselves were selling their own people - not only to Europeans and Americans but largely to the Arabic countries so shouldn't the African governments be apologising to their own people!!!!  Do we blame the young Germans of today for the Holocaust - NO we don't!  We can only learn from past mistakes and MOVE ON!!  This is another example of people trying to make financial gain in todays compensation culture!
97573
Okay, To let it be known, all things that happened in th past is brought up for a reason, to let us know what the deal was. If u havent noticed, history repeats itself in some way. Black slavery was the harshest outta all slaverys as most people have said. Yet, also, alot of other nationalities have been enslaved as well. Its just that ours were the worst. Yer bro-n-law is wrong by the way. U mite wanna educate him, and show him what the deal is, that it wasnt just blacks, it was everyone. Also, it really doent need to be brought up, unless its n a history class. \n\nHave yall seen the Dave Chappelle show, when he did the thing on Slavery Compensation. (i thought that was pretty funny) yet, if thats the case, shouldnt everyone else that was enslaved as well get paid too?? It wouldnt be fair. Ill honestly say that none of us (blacks) deserve to get paid. Paying us in money, for sumthin that has traumatized possibly the whole world is actually priceless. There isnt enuff money in the world to say, "oh its aight"\n\nFinal answers:\nWhy people complain?? Because it still hurts and its the most recent (sort of) Yer bro-n-law is wrong. Most races have went thru some type of slavey in some point of time.\n\nhope i helped
483273
We aren't celebrating the killing of Native Americans!!  This is a day that we set aside to give "thanks" based loosely on what happened at the "first" Thanksgiving.  It is not actually about celebrating what happened 400 years ago, but its about remembering to give "thanks" for what you have now.  And as an American Indian, I think its just a tad bit racist to want to give to Native American charities just on Thanksgiving, which By the way, I never knew we had our own socio-economic problems, must be something knew...God, I love some of you white people with your guilt.  I'm just playing, you're hearts in the right place
358845
Why do you think words like cracker, honkey and whitey were invented?  I hate to lower myself to grade school mentality, but white people started it.  I'm not condoning anybody calling anybody else stupid, insulting names.  It's not ok in either direction.  But I can understand when a group of people are being called names out of hatred simply for the color of their skin that they might get defensive and try to hit back.  \n\nIn the example of ghettos, there are many factors that don't have to do directly with a person's race.  There are people living in poverty who have lost all hope and are separated off from the rest of society.  So people band together in violent groups that end up fighting for things like territory and material things they could never afford.  Not saying it's right, but this has been a complicated process that led to gang mentality.  It's going back to something primal that every human being has which can be brought forth in a corrupt world.  Have you seen the movie, "Gangs of New York"?  Those were white people living in squalid conditions in an urban place which had little to no law enforcement available to keep things in check.  That's what you're seeing today.  Apathy and poverty creates a new breed of a violent generation.\n\nThink about the circumstances in which blacks came to this country.  They were slaves, not free to pursue an education, be paid wages for a job, or own property.  Whites got a pretty good head start since they've been in America since the 15th century with every opportunity they could grasp.  Even after the slaves were freed, because racism still existed, many couldn't find a well-paying job and they were banned from receiving the same education as whites up through the 1950's.  That was just 50 years ago.  That means someone's grandfather couldn't earn the money to educate their children and those children made their way to afford things for their children, but it didn't always work out.  Wealth comes from family passed down or you have to find a position that pays well.  Because people are still turned down today because they are black, things like the United Negro College Fund are still necessary.\n\nWhat's wrong with Martin Luther King Day?  He was an amazing man who made great strides in the Civil Rights Movement, trying to make change for the better for everyone in this country.  Why not celebrate Cesar Chavez?  This country is made up of more than white people.  He represents the pride of Latino heritage and struggle.  We honor Abraham Lincoln for the difference he made during a tumultuous time in the country.  \n\nYes, we have a Black History Month.  We also have a Women's History Month.  Why?  Because most of our history books only talk about what white men did over the centuries.  Minority cultures only get a month.\n\nIf you turn on the television, what do you see in most sitcoms?  White people.  Think about Friends, Seinfeld, Frasier, Gilmore Girls, The Office, Will and Grace, Everybody Loves Raymond, etc.  None of the main characters are black.  How would you feel if the situation was reversed?  What if all shows on the main networks were focused on black life?  Would you feel a little left out, wishing you also had a channel that targeted your interests and culture?\n\nAs for things like White Pride, the KKK have had parades in the past along those lines.  They were based on hatred and superiority.  Black Pride is not about making others feel bad, but helping the black community to focus on the positive.
278185
I'm white and I agree. It's just like the black college funds, colleges, television etc... Lord forbid there be a white college fund or white college or a white tv station. I agree with your boyfriend that because of the history looooooooooong ago it puts a damper on things now. But we shouldn't have to suffer for the actions of others. I am proud to be white and I am proud to be an American and I am pround to be from Oklahoma. Shouldn't I be allowed to flaunt it?  And it's also ok for other races to make fun of us in their comic gigs or whatever and say the work "Cracker" referring to us but we aren't allowed to say the word "Nigger" referring to them. I don't think either word should be used. I don't think any word like that  should be used to describe anyone. But I can't say I am upset about the slaves being brought over here. I am glad their offsprings are here. They are my friends. If it weren't for the slaves being brought over we may not have some of the great people we do have. I am disappointed in what happened to alot of them though. I feel for them. Though thank God that thinking is different now.\n\nOMGOsh!!!!!!!!!! \nI wrote out that so horrible "N" word to make a point and it got substituted with symbles but the word CRACKER is still there. See my point people. If we are supposed to be equal lets be equal.