Apology for Slavery
The Virginia General Assembly has been attempting to pass legislation that would "apologize" for slavery. This legislation, if you follow the link and read the article, http://www.timesdispatch.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=RTD%2FMGArticle%2FRTD_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1149193000553&path=%21news%21politics&s=1045855935264 you can see why the legislation was introduced and why the introduction of this legislation has not been without its critics.
Like it or not, the ancestors of many African-Americans came to Jamestown, VA in 1619. This is a part of history and not subject to change or debate. The people of those slave ships helped to build this state and this country and have added a rich cultural aspect to life here in the United States. Does it matter how these people came as long as we recognize their unlimited contributions to life as we know it in this country?
There has been a very outspoken group of people in the United States that have been advocated for monetary reparations for their ancesters being involuntarily brought this country. The question that begs to be asked is who should pay those reparations? Should the Commonweath of Virginia pay those reparations? After all, that slave ship landed at Jamestown in 1619. Pehaps every citizen of the United States should pay reparations, since we have all benefitted from the contibutions of the labor of those who were enslaved? What about those, who like myself, are first-generation American but are of dual ancestory (Jamaican & English)?
Just some food for thought?
Drnjbmd
Like it or not, the ancestors of many African-Americans came to Jamestown, VA in 1619. This is a part of history and not subject to change or debate. The people of those slave ships helped to build this state and this country and have added a rich cultural aspect to life here in the United States. Does it matter how these people came as long as we recognize their unlimited contributions to life as we know it in this country?
There has been a very outspoken group of people in the United States that have been advocated for monetary reparations for their ancesters being involuntarily brought this country. The question that begs to be asked is who should pay those reparations? Should the Commonweath of Virginia pay those reparations? After all, that slave ship landed at Jamestown in 1619. Pehaps every citizen of the United States should pay reparations, since we have all benefitted from the contibutions of the labor of those who were enslaved? What about those, who like myself, are first-generation American but are of dual ancestory (Jamaican & English)?
Just some food for thought?
Drnjbmd
posted by Drnjbmd at
15:38
3 Comments:
And a wonderful buffet you set . . .
My opinion is that America use some of their money to set up an independent research group to track who profited from slavery and where the companies that remain are. One prime example would be insurance companies that rarely go out of business but rather their premium payers are purchased by their betters. One such organ is the Aetna Insurance Company. I feel if a firm profited from decades of slavery then they owe a portion of that profit plus interest to the adult descendants of slaves.
The government owes a debt as well and should share equally in the payment. The way our economics experts here in Dis at TED-OG work the numbers, around 8.1 trillion dollars (h! 12 162 162 162) or $208 000 per African American bbroken into four payments spaced out over 25 years ought to do it.
That type of fiscal infusion wouldn't cure all the problems of the Black experience in America, but it would go a long way to bulldoze the economic palying field. Even though as musch as 40% of the people would squander this elevation in economic class many more would do the work of ensuring wealth for future generations. The debt is owed as i see it and it should be paid.
There is a debt owed but who pays and to whom? There are many people who are of mixed racial ancestory and thus, are they to be paid? There are people who like myself, are first generation American, and of mixed racial ancestory. Do we pay or are we paid?
There are many people who label themselves as "white" who have African ancestors who came over in 1619 on those slave ships. Are these folks payers or payees?
One of the most interesting aspects of this debate and the even larger debate in the United States today is not that our social status is determined by race or "ethnicity" but by the "haves" and the "have-nots". Race is becoming more and more irrelevant in these types of equations.
The question of reparations for slavery does bring forth some interesting debate and ideas, does it not???
The very debate, ahaving ablue ribbon bipartisan commission set up federally and in every state would shift the very dynamics of how politics is done in America. Such an event like the reconciliation courts in South Africa would heal ancient wounds and exposed those who were corrupt in past incarnations. This is a process that many of the elite in America fear due to their privilege being called into question and that fear of economic loss is the very root stock of racism.
Qu'ul cuda praedex nihil!
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