What percent of the current White Americans had ancestors living in the U.S. at the time slavery was practiced
372152
I don't think most of know our ancestry back that far, I can't even find out what my grandfathers name is. I would assume that the number would be fairly low, considering all the immigration that has taken place since the Civil War.\nWonderful question!
513198
Many of the people who came to America from Europe in the 1700-1800's were people seeking religios freedom that they didn't have in Europe at that time. Much of that religios ferver has been passes through the years to the current Americans.
189838
It only affects them in their own minds.  No African American alive today was ever a slave, and I doubt there are very many alive whose parents were.  Sure, some will use it as an excuse to not work and commit crimes, but the better, classier ones will get an education and work to support themselves.
1032343
Many of the slaves that came to America were sold into slavery by other Africans.  Slavery went on long before it was a part of American history, and still goes on today in Third World countries.  \n\nIt goes to show that skin color doesn't matter, that we're all human, and as humans we can be pretty un-evolved and low if we choose to be.  People around the world are greedy and uncompassionate and will do almost anything to each other for money.  \n\nOf course what will stop slavery is when human rights, civil rights and economic power are granted to everyone, and that means men and women equally, and also to all races equally.  Those who are lower on the power scale have to keep fighting for their rights, since power is always taken, never given.  \n\nHope this helps.  Cheers, K (teacher and traveler who has yet to go to Africa but wants to)
678986
Indians as in from the Indian sub-continent?  Indians as in from the counry India specifically?  Or Indians as in Native Americans?\n\nNative Americans are less that 1% of the total population:\n\n\n"white 81.7%, black 12.9%, Asian 4.2%, Amerindian and Alaska native 1%, native Hawaiian and other Pacific islander 0.2% (2003 est.) \nnote: a separate listing for Hispanic is not included because the US Census Bureau considers Hispanic to mean a person of Latin American descent (including persons of Cuban, Mexican, or Puerto Rican origin) living in the US who may be of any race or ethnic group (white, black, Asian, etc.) "
435249
I resent you saying that I have the same mind set as my ancestors whom you claim owned slaves.  All white people did not own slaves, in fact, a lot of them were against it and fought for the freedom of the slaves.  I have always been on the slaves side when I have read or seen anything about slavery.  Just because I am white does not mean I think slavery is acceptable.  I think it was deplorable!  However, a lot of other people have been wronged in history too, mainly, the indians whom we stole this very land from.  Are you going to make repairations to the indians for the fact that YOUR ancestors stole THEIR land????!!!!!
446135
Excellent points!  We're always being told that our ancestors enslaved them, but we're never told that our ancestors also fought and died to free them.  It's been 140 years since there was slavery.  There are so many programs to help black people, at the expense of white people.  Its about time black people quit looking for excuses and try to make it like I know they can.  And don't start calling me prejudice cause I aint!
888751
slavery still exists. its just in a different form. there are slaves here in america and in other parts of the world. i am surprised u never heard of it. there are woman who come into this country with a promised job as a "maid" and when they get over here their employer takes their passports and keeps their wages. which is slavery.
598632
According to the 2005 CIA World Fact (an official statistics agency), America racial composition is:\n\n    * White\n          o 81.7%, or 241 million (includes those who declared themselves as white-Hispanics; those of Middle Eastern and North African descent; and others who checked "Some other race".)\n          o 69%, or 204 million (excludes white-Hispanics, but includes Middle Easterners, North Africans, and others who checked "Some other race".)\n    * Black or African American 12.9% or 36.4 million,\n    * Asian 4.2% or 11.9 million,\n    * American Indian 1.4% or 4.1 million,which includes those of mixed race or more than race in addition to Native Americans\n    * Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander 0.2%\n    * Two or more races 2.4%\n\nThe Census Bureau considers Hispanic to be any person with national origins in Latin America or Spain (ie. Spaniards, Cubans, Mexicans, Puerto Ricans, Dominicans, etc.), and thus may be of any race.\n\nThe American population is therefore only around 60% pure White European(180 million people).\n\n    * Hispanics of any race 14.1%, or 41.3 million.\n\nBy ethnicity, Hispanics comprise 14% of the American population, surpassing African Americans as America's largest de facto ethnic minority.\n\nThe Census Bureau's definition of "white" is not necessarily the definition most widely held by Americans in general. Most Americans define "white" to exclude all Hispanics, even those of exclusive or predominanty European descent. Using that definition, the white proportion of the U.S. population is currently at 69.1% or even much less if we take into account the important amount of them who define themselves as white being actually of mixed ancestry.\n\nOf course, by the same definition, the numbers for each of the other races would be reduced if one were to take into account the important amounts of each group who define themselve as mixed ancestry rather than solely African American, Asian American or Native American.
431328
NONE of my family came to this country until 1887.  We were\nnot even in this country while slavery was common practice.\nWhy on earth should they be need reparations for something\nthat didn't touch them???????  NOT ONE OF THEM has ever \nbeen a slave. The civil war was over in 1865, so no one \nhas even remotely distant relatives that were effected by it.  THIS WHOLE ISSUE IS RIDICULES!!!!
1134577
Selective breeding during slavery
1048449
alot. in the midwest heard that alot from several that used to live there.
14747
Reparations in the United States have generally been limited to the survivors of government harm.  Watch your terminology, though - slavery was not a crime until 1865, since the government permitted slavery and only outlawed it through the Thirteenth Amendment after the Civil War.\n\nFor instance, the United States paid survivors of Japanese internment programs from WWII.  The program, however, was limited to survivors.  No survivors of slavery exist today.\n\nA current reparations program would be too bizarre to fathom.  All African-Americans were not harmed by slavery, after all, since some immigrated to America after slavery, or since some have no slave ancestors.  It would be virtually impossible to require proof of slave ancestry, and then to divide some sum proportionately.\n\nAdditionally, the vague "400 yr+ of oppression" is unhelpful in crafting legislation.  Slavery ended.  Segregation did exist also, that's ended for over 50 years now.  If you're problem with "White supremacy and injustice," then I'm afraid that no amount of money will solve the problem.  Instead, educating future generations and winning over hearts and minds is the most effective remedy to injustice.
790941
Try researching your genealogy. It may prove to be a difficult task and you may never find out. Just be comfortable with being a human being and do not worry about the percentage of other races that made you up. You are a child of the universe like everyone else. You have a right to be here.
143610
U.S. "legalized" slavery may have ended in 1861, but please do not let us fool ourselves -- slavery, in many forms, still exists today . . . and I'm not talking "slave to my job" kind either.    :-(
96833
When African Americans came
259742
I could go on for hours but, until most people are educated in history, politics, respect and self worth. That goes for black, and any other race in this country. It's not so much that blacks should be upset with whites because our ancestors  bought them from their own people and now some want everything handed to them along with other financial reparations. It's that, if you look at factual history, all of us (every race) were slaves at one time to some great empire. Blacks were just the last! I do not think it is fair  that Americans should live in a fantasy world and show over 50% blacks in advertising campaigns, music, TV programing when they only make up for 16% of the US population of which that number actually about 11% due to incarceration.