Comments on: Reparations, the Past, and the Present http://whiteprivilege.com/2001/09/10/reparations-the-past-and-the-present/ Treason to whiteness is loyalty to humanity. Sun, 20 Jul 2008 21:19:24 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=1.5.1.3 by: t http://whiteprivilege.com/2001/09/10/reparations-the-past-and-the-present/#comment-745 Wed, 27 Jul 2005 23:18:28 +0000 http://whiteprivilege.com/2001/09/10/reparations-the-past-and-the-present/#comment-745 I believe Reparations are owed first of all,based on Field Order 15 ordered by William T Sherman in 1865 stating that each family would receive 40 acres of land and an army mule to work the land, thus "forty acres and a mule" Abraham Lincoln was assinated and Andrew Johnson a southerner succeed him. He was agaisnt reconstruction. Black peope had nothing at that time and their families inherited nothing except their debt and poverty. Not all blacks come from poverty. But I think reparations is owed. The notion that blacks are looking for a payment from individual whites is insane and never going to happen. Repaartions is never going to happen. Programs should be emplemented to rebuild the black community or help them build their community. But It will never happen, reparations will never happen and the black underclass community will continue to deterirate and black men will continue to be the majority of the population in the prison systems. So out of all of the arguments agaisnt reparations, there are still families in the Unites Staes that profited from slavery. I believe Reparations are owed first of all,based on Field Order 15 ordered by William T Sherman in 1865 stating that each family would receive 40 acres of land and an army mule to work the land, thus “forty acres and a mule”
Abraham Lincoln was assinated and Andrew Johnson a southerner succeed him. He was agaisnt reconstruction. Black peope had nothing at that time and their families inherited nothing except their debt and poverty. Not all blacks come from poverty. But I think reparations is owed. The notion that blacks are looking for a payment from individual whites is insane and never going to happen. Repaartions is never going to happen. Programs should be emplemented to rebuild the black community or help them build their community. But It will never happen, reparations will never happen and the black underclass community will continue to deterirate and black men will continue to be the majority of the population in the prison systems. So out of all of the arguments agaisnt reparations, there are still families in the Unites Staes that profited from slavery.

]]> by: marie http://whiteprivilege.com/2001/09/10/reparations-the-past-and-the-present/#comment-90 Wed, 31 Dec 1969 17:59:59 +0000 http://whiteprivilege.com/2001/09/10/reparations-the-past-and-the-present/#comment-90 Reperation should be paid to the victims of slavery. I am not saying give every black person a check, but maybe reperation can been done in the form of education,health care and economic enrichment programs. In American history black people are not taught their history. we learn about world history but we do not learn African history. One whom does not know his past has no way of moving ahead. Public education should not teach students hat Arican-Americans were slaves and then were freed. Just like the jewish haulaucost the african haulaucost is dominant today,because balck people still are not given the same opportunities as white people. and we still experience racism on daily bases when we are misrepresented in the media and when we are not given the same opportunities as a white person. or when we are incouraged to strive to be like white people and giving up our heritage is the right thing to do. Reperation should be paid to the victims of slavery. I am not saying give every black person a check, but maybe reperation can been done in the form of education,health care and economic enrichment programs. In American history black people are not taught their history. we learn about world history but we do not learn African history. One whom does not know his past has no way of moving ahead. Public education should not teach students hat Arican-Americans were slaves and then were freed. Just like the jewish haulaucost the african haulaucost is dominant today,because balck people still are not given the same opportunities as white people. and we still experience racism on daily bases when we are misrepresented in the media and when we are not given the same opportunities as a white person. or when we are incouraged to strive to be like white people and giving up our heritage is the right thing to do.

]]> by: Greg http://whiteprivilege.com/2001/09/10/reparations-the-past-and-the-present/#comment-89 Wed, 31 Dec 1969 17:59:59 +0000 http://whiteprivilege.com/2001/09/10/reparations-the-past-and-the-present/#comment-89 Examine society and I'm sure you'll see it encourages the cries of reperations in other judgements. Surely you are familiar with some of the law suites against companies that seem to be clear personal responsibility issues. Americans seems to be becoming less responsible for itself and reparations appears to be just another symptom. Examine society and I’m sure you’ll see it encourages the cries of reperations in other judgements. Surely you are familiar with some of the law suites against companies that seem to be clear personal responsibility issues.
Americans seems to be becoming less responsible for itself and reparations appears to be just another symptom.

]]> by: Jeff http://whiteprivilege.com/2001/09/10/reparations-the-past-and-the-present/#comment-88 Wed, 31 Dec 1969 17:59:59 +0000 http://whiteprivilege.com/2001/09/10/reparations-the-past-and-the-present/#comment-88 The concept of reparations is absolutely ABSURD! How far back do we go to seek payment for the wrongs that were done to others? I owe them nothing and they owe me nothing. I'm the son of a poor farmer and I have worked hard for thirty years to get where I am...don't expect me, under ANY conditions, to hand over money for something so rediculous. Slavery was legal at the time (wrong, but legal!). Example: If the speed limit on a road was 70 mph yesterday, but lowered to 55 today, can the police give ME a ticket for MY BROTHER going 65 on the road yesterday? May sound silly, but it's the same principle. Who should pay? Who should receive? Get a job, earn an honest living, and stop whining about who "owes" you something. The concept of reparations is absolutely ABSURD! How far back do we go to seek payment for the wrongs that were done to others? I owe them nothing and they owe me nothing. I’m the son of a poor farmer and I have worked hard for thirty years to get where I am…don’t expect me, under ANY conditions, to hand over money for something so rediculous. Slavery was legal at the time (wrong, but legal!). Example: If the speed limit on a road was 70 mph yesterday, but lowered to 55 today, can the police give ME a ticket for MY BROTHER going 65 on the road yesterday? May sound silly, but it’s the same principle. Who should pay? Who should receive? Get a job, earn an honest living, and stop whining about who “owes” you something.

]]> by: Trina http://whiteprivilege.com/2001/09/10/reparations-the-past-and-the-present/#comment-87 Wed, 31 Dec 1969 17:59:59 +0000 http://whiteprivilege.com/2001/09/10/reparations-the-past-and-the-present/#comment-87 If it did not happen to you, therefore you cant tell someone how to feel about it. If the world change a great deal from then maybe the feelings would go away.Others got theirs why cant blacks get it. If it did not happen to you, therefore you cant tell someone how to feel about it. If the world change a great deal from then maybe the feelings would go away.Others got theirs why cant blacks get it.

]]> by: Angus Young http://whiteprivilege.com/2001/09/10/reparations-the-past-and-the-present/#comment-86 Wed, 31 Dec 1969 17:59:59 +0000 http://whiteprivilege.com/2001/09/10/reparations-the-past-and-the-present/#comment-86 I'm a white man. I think white people should create a homeland somewhere in North America. We need a place where we can just be off on our own, among our own if we want. I'm not talking about taking over the U.S., it just needs to be a place, any size. There are those of other races that want to separate their race from others, and to them I would say you and I are in agreement. I wouldn't mind if other races created homelands, that's fine. Nor would I have a problem with gays and lesbians creating homelands. Then they can go off and do their thing without having to worry about what people like me will think, say or do. I can imagine what some multiculturalists are going to write about what I've said, so I'll answer ahead of time with this-- fine, live in the multi-culti areas then. I never said the entire planet should be a series of homelands from one pole to the other... what I am saying is that it shouldn't be unallowable for racial homelands to exist anywhere on the planet. I’m a white man. I think white people should create a homeland somewhere in North America. We need a place where we can just be off on our own, among our own if we want. I’m not talking about taking over the U.S., it just needs to be a place, any size. There are those of other races that want to separate their race from others, and to them I would say you and I are in agreement. I wouldn’t mind if other races created homelands, that’s fine. Nor would I have a problem with gays and lesbians creating homelands. Then they can go off and do their thing without having to worry about what people like me will think, say or do.

I can imagine what some multiculturalists are going to write about what I’ve said, so I’ll answer ahead of time with this– fine, live in the multi-culti areas then. I never said the entire planet should be a series of homelands from one pole to the other… what I am saying is that it shouldn’t be unallowable for racial homelands to exist anywhere on the planet.

]]> by: BlackMan http://whiteprivilege.com/2001/09/10/reparations-the-past-and-the-present/#comment-85 Wed, 31 Dec 1969 17:59:59 +0000 http://whiteprivilege.com/2001/09/10/reparations-the-past-and-the-present/#comment-85 I'm a black man. I've read quite a bit of the replies here about reparations for past slaves and I'm shocked at what I'm reading here. I think it's obvious what is written here is spoken from primarily uneducated whites and blacks alike. I think it's hard, very hard, to bridge that gap between racial equality and Hard Knock University. The issues with blacks today isn't going to be solved by sending us globs of money. If there are any reparations to be paid, please set up an educational fund to provide our young the necessary classes and so forth to teach them racial equality and racial tolerance. We, as blacks, have lived most of our lives without a lot of money and we've done just fine. I think what is important here is going forward and leaving the past in the past. We can only hope that our younger generation growing up can look back at the "old" ways and learn that there are more reasonable ways to do things for the future. The concepts of our inability to get along has long been obvious, but with time and healing... and most important EDUCATION, we can all come out of this decently and peacefully. Money, throughout time, has never proven to solve anything... in fact, it's caused only more hurt, pain, and extreme cases of lonliness. Money is not the answer to our problems. I say this to my people... You can have a billion man march, if you don't put down that malt liquor and chicken wings... and get behind someone other than a running back who stabs his wife... you will never get rid of the very people who put you down. Get up off your butts and take what is yours, stop complaining. I’m a black man.

I’ve read quite a bit of the replies here about reparations for past slaves and I’m shocked at what I’m reading here.

I think it’s obvious what is written here is spoken from primarily uneducated whites and blacks alike. I think it’s hard, very hard, to bridge that gap between racial equality and Hard Knock University.

The issues with blacks today isn’t going to be solved by sending us globs of money. If there are any reparations to be paid, please set up an educational fund to provide our young the necessary classes and so forth to teach them racial equality and racial tolerance.

We, as blacks, have lived most of our lives without a lot of money and we’ve done just fine. I think what is important here is going forward and leaving the past in the past. We can only hope that our younger generation growing up can look back at the “old” ways and learn that there are more reasonable ways to do things for the future. The concepts of our inability to get along has long been obvious, but with time and healing… and most important EDUCATION, we can all come out of this decently and peacefully.

Money, throughout time, has never proven to solve anything… in fact, it’s caused only more hurt, pain, and extreme cases of lonliness.

Money is not the answer to our problems.

I say this to my people…
You can have a billion man march, if you don’t put down that malt liquor and chicken wings… and get behind someone other than a running back who stabs his wife… you will never get rid of the very people who put you down. Get up off your butts and take what is yours, stop complaining.

]]> by: R. Mack http://whiteprivilege.com/2001/09/10/reparations-the-past-and-the-present/#comment-84 Wed, 31 Dec 1969 17:59:59 +0000 http://whiteprivilege.com/2001/09/10/reparations-the-past-and-the-present/#comment-84 In truth the call for reparations may be tinged by those whose ulterior motives are to reap some sort of financial benefit from the movement. Or perhaps to make others feel guilty,or to garner some sort of revenge. However, as a so called black man- African-American I see the reparations movement as a way to incite dialogue about what has been for so long a hush-hush issue. There are some who say that blacks should just get over it, and I agree in as much as we as a people and America as a nation should move on. However we cannot do effectively 'move on' without everyone black and white admitting two things. #1 blacks should admit (whomever it applies) that we have not moved on because many of us still blame whites for our failures, that is, there are some of us who instead of reaching for our dreams, mire in a state of self-worthlessness which is totally unfortunate. There is nothing that anyone can no achieve if they whole-heartedly believe in themselves even in the face of oppression. #2 whites must admit that many of them have not moved on because concsiously and subconciously the idea is ingrained in their minds that somehow and in someway so-called negroes are inferior to themselves. This is a sad way for human beings to boost their own esteem, by imposing this preposterous idea upon others. First off if so-called whites were superior there would be no need to prove this ideology at every nook and turn. Secondly if this theory were true then they would not have to violently enforce this point. To the contrary race is a social construct that is not biologically valid, and is only usefull to divide and conquer. Finally those who are superior, whether black or white are those men and women who have decided not to be lulled into this ignorance, hatred, and evil; recognizing that we all as human beings are imperfect and have a myriad of short comings, yet our commonalites are greater than our differences. Furthermore, the greatest thing that we all share in common is the desire to love and to be love. So if reparation movement can incited dialogue to this end, I say good. In truth the call for reparations may be tinged by those whose ulterior motives are to reap some sort of financial benefit from the movement. Or perhaps to make others feel guilty,or to garner some sort of revenge. However, as a so called black man- African-American I see the reparations movement as a way to incite dialogue about what has been for so long a hush-hush issue. There are some who say that blacks should just get over it, and I agree in as much as we as a people and America as a nation should move on. However we cannot do effectively ‘move on’ without everyone black and white admitting two things. #1 blacks should admit (whomever it applies) that we have not moved on because many of us still blame whites for our failures, that is, there are some of us who instead of reaching for our dreams, mire in a state of self-worthlessness which is totally unfortunate. There is nothing that anyone can no achieve if they whole-heartedly believe in themselves even in the face of oppression. #2 whites must admit that many of them have not moved on because concsiously and subconciously the idea is ingrained in their minds that somehow and in someway so-called negroes are inferior to themselves. This is a sad way for human beings to boost their own esteem, by imposing this preposterous idea upon others. First off if so-called whites were superior there would be no need to prove this ideology at every nook and turn. Secondly if this theory were true then they would not have to violently enforce this point. To the contrary race is a social construct that is not biologically valid, and is only usefull to divide and conquer. Finally those who are superior, whether black or white are those men and women who have decided not to be lulled into this ignorance, hatred, and evil; recognizing that we all as human beings are imperfect and have a myriad of short comings, yet our commonalites are greater than our differences. Furthermore, the greatest thing that we all share in common is the desire to love and to be love. So if reparation movement can incited dialogue to this end, I say good.

]]> by: white poor http://whiteprivilege.com/2001/09/10/reparations-the-past-and-the-present/#comment-83 Wed, 31 Dec 1969 17:59:59 +0000 http://whiteprivilege.com/2001/09/10/reparations-the-past-and-the-present/#comment-83 I think defensiveness on both sides is holding back the truth of this situation. I think one side is white people getting pissed off because like me they've never done anything racist and are pissed off by the suggestion that they should pay cocky african americans who are no longer slaves. The other side are african americans pissed off that cocky european americans are trying to say that african american problems are just laziness. Both these sides are constructed by anger. Both have important points and both have over generalizations do to anger. First Kendell that is the biggest pile of bull that all white people benefited from slavery. First of all the main soldiers in the northern union army were white union workers who went to fight because the existence of slaves in the south undermined the unions of the north. You can compare this to globalization today. Workers cannot strike if free labor exists in the south. All a company would have to do is take its business to the south to break the strike. This is why over a million poor white workers fought the southern aristocracy in the bloodiest war in the United States history. Tell me what the poor white worker benefited from slavery. Also the poor white farmer who were in competition with free labor and driven into poverty because of the existence of slavery. Tell me how the poor white farmer gained from the oppression of the black man. So in your opinion I who had numerous ancestors who shed blood to free the black man so poor whites could be more free should pay someone I don't know out of my limited budget. That is what is nosensical. I don't think any white people should have to pay reparations for something we didn't do and all the reasons already stated ahead. I also don't think that some whites should take this cocky attitude that blacks are unharmed by slavery. The scars are lasting but anyone who thinks a little extra money with increased racial tension is going down the wrong road in general. I know that I am willing to struggle for racial harmony but if I was forced to pay some random African American for something I didn't do I would be that much closer to saying fuck it. Keisha, Earl, Mercutio, and Willie I think the truth lies in between what all of you say. Willie don't be so naive and so easy to eat propaganda you see on the news. The American ruling class is still stealing from blacks and capitalism has driven poor people (black and white) out of jobs to move factories to oppressive countries in Africa, Central America, Asia and now the collapsed communist countries. Earl and Keisha no matter if you are racist or not (i can't tell) only all poor people of all races united can change oppression. Earl even if all black people did go on strike they don't hold enough jobs (because of globalism)to hold enough sway. Keisha the only practical way reparations could work is if you sued the corporations still in existence that benefited from slavery and gave it to help with african american college education. That would help the African American population without increasing racial tension. Mercutio its true that the white ruling class has destroyed enviroment, cultures, and peoples. Notice I say the white ruling class because white oppressed have been living under the heel of the ruling class for to long. It also takes great will to hold back getting angry at your racist generalizations. I am german irish and proud of my ancestors. My german great great grandfather left germany because he participated in the 1848 failed revolution. His son fought in the civil war. My Irish ancestors left because of the starvation in Ireland due to British rule. I feel your cultural pride but watch your racist bullshit. I absolutely agree with Lady T. Knowthyself even if black people deserve personal reparations because of mental slavery. Do random white people who have fought for equality deserve to pay for it out of their already small budgets. The answer to the reparations question is to sue corporations who directly benefited from slavery and give it to education of community building in African American neighborhoods. The real answer though is socialism and true equality, workers of the world unite! I think defensiveness on both sides is holding back the truth of this situation. I think one side is white people getting pissed off because like me they’ve never done anything racist and are pissed off by the suggestion that they should pay cocky african americans who are no longer slaves. The other side are african americans pissed off that cocky european americans are trying to say that african american problems are just laziness. Both these sides are constructed by anger. Both have important points and both have over generalizations do to anger.

First Kendell that is the biggest pile of bull that all white people benefited from slavery. First of all the main soldiers in the northern union army were white union workers who went to fight because the existence of slaves in the south undermined the unions of the north. You can compare this to globalization today. Workers cannot strike if free labor exists in the south. All a company would have to do is take its business to the south to break the strike. This is why over a million poor white workers fought the southern aristocracy in the bloodiest war in the United States history. Tell me what the poor white worker benefited from slavery. Also the poor white farmer who were in competition with free labor and driven into poverty because of the existence of slavery. Tell me how the poor white farmer gained from the oppression of the black man.

So in your opinion I who had numerous ancestors who shed blood to free the black man so poor whites could be more free should pay someone I don’t know out of my limited budget. That is what is nosensical.

I don’t think any white people should have to pay reparations for something we didn’t do and all the reasons already stated ahead. I also don’t think that some whites should take this cocky attitude that blacks are unharmed by slavery. The scars are lasting but anyone who thinks a little extra money with increased racial tension is going down the wrong road in general. I know that I am willing to struggle for racial harmony but if I was forced to pay some random African American for something I didn’t do I would be that much closer to saying fuck it.

Keisha, Earl, Mercutio, and Willie I think the truth lies in between what all of you say. Willie don’t be so naive and so easy to eat propaganda you see on the news. The American ruling class is still stealing from blacks and capitalism has driven poor people (black and white) out of jobs to move factories to oppressive countries in Africa, Central America, Asia and now the collapsed communist countries. Earl and Keisha no matter if you are racist or not (i can’t tell) only all poor people of all races united can change oppression. Earl even if all black people did go on strike they don’t hold enough jobs (because of globalism)to hold enough sway. Keisha the only practical way reparations could work is if you sued the corporations still in existence that benefited from slavery and gave it to help with african american college education. That would help the African American population without increasing racial tension. Mercutio its true that the white ruling class has destroyed enviroment, cultures, and peoples. Notice I say the white ruling class because white oppressed have been living under the heel of the ruling class for to long. It also takes great will to hold back getting angry at your racist generalizations. I am german irish and proud of my ancestors. My german great great grandfather left germany because he participated in the 1848 failed revolution. His son fought in the civil war. My Irish ancestors left because of the starvation in Ireland due to British rule. I feel your cultural pride but watch your racist bullshit.

I absolutely agree with Lady T. Knowthyself even if black people deserve personal reparations because of mental slavery. Do random white people who have fought for equality deserve to pay for it out of their already small budgets. The answer to the reparations question is to sue corporations who directly benefited from slavery and give it to education of community building in African American neighborhoods. The real answer though is socialism and true equality, workers of the world unite!

]]> by: knowthyself http://whiteprivilege.com/2001/09/10/reparations-the-past-and-the-present/#comment-82 Wed, 31 Dec 1969 17:59:59 +0000 http://whiteprivilege.com/2001/09/10/reparations-the-past-and-the-present/#comment-82 I wish that people would listen to themselves. After reading over these comments I found many people saying that slavery is the past, and that it's too late now to ask for reparation. Do you realize that Africans in america are still in slavery---mentally! Slavery is still real and alive and exists today. Black children are still growing up feeling inferior. African Americans are the only people who had a guideline to take their mind (Willie Lynch- 'How to make a slave'). And if you are familiar with these writings you would know that this is why Black people have so much self hate and why there is so much Black on Black crime. American would not be were it is economically or industrially if it wasn't for the enslavement of Africans. Africans began to be enslaved in america in 1619; europeans started colonizing america in 1616. That only a three-year difference. If slavery is not still playing a major part on modern America, then why are Africans in America not at the same place as Caucasians, economically and socially? Reparations are not all about money. How many years have Blacks pay for schools that Blacks couldn't attend. Let Africans in American go to school for free. Slavery destroyed my people. We even had Africans in America on this web site stating that they don't need reparations, but would be the first one to sue if someone damaged something of theirs. When their minds have been damaged for the past 383 years. Wake Up! You can't just put a band-aid on slavery and say, "oops, I'm sorry". YOU, the people of america, are a very fatuous people. And YOU need to WAKE UP! I wish that people would listen to themselves.

After reading over these comments I found many people saying that slavery is the past, and that it’s too late now to ask for reparation.

Do you realize that Africans in america are still in slavery—mentally! Slavery is still real and alive and exists today. Black children are still growing up feeling inferior.

African Americans are the only people who had a guideline to take their mind (Willie Lynch- ‘How to make a slave’). And if you are familiar with these writings you would know that this is why Black people have so much self hate and why there is so much Black on Black crime.

American would not be were it is economically or industrially if it wasn’t for the enslavement of Africans. Africans began to be enslaved in america in 1619; europeans started colonizing america in 1616. That only a three-year difference. If slavery is not still playing a major part on modern America, then why are Africans in America not at the same place as Caucasians, economically and socially?

Reparations are not all about money. How many years have Blacks pay for schools that Blacks couldn’t attend. Let Africans in American go to school for free. Slavery destroyed my people. We even had Africans in America on this web site stating that they don’t need reparations, but would be the first one to sue if someone damaged something of theirs. When their minds have been damaged for the past 383 years. Wake Up! You can’t just put a band-aid on slavery and say, “oops, I’m sorry”. YOU, the people of america, are a very fatuous people. And YOU need to WAKE UP!

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