It isn't clear to me what reparations are being sought after for. Is it to compensate slave-descendents for wages that were never paid to slaves (1), or is it to compensate slave descendents for the long-term social ills in the African-American community due to the lingering effects of slavery (2)? Legally, it sounds like the argument is for the first point that was made above. The fiery speeches all refer to the second point... the real motivation for this movement. NOW, FOR THIS THREAD.... I want to ignore the first point completley! I don't care how valid it is. I just want to know about #2. I want to know what people's opinions are about the present day effects of slavery on the descendents of slaves. WHAT EXACTLY HAS SLAVERY DONE TO SLAVE DESCENDENTS? Although it is morally wrong, racism is not illegal. Denying a qualified person a job, denying a qualified person a bank loan, and treating people unequally in the workplace are illegal. All of these things were social problems well after slavery was abolished, but are they still significant problems? Are they any more significant than education reform, teenage drug use, and everything else that effects society as a whole? Personally, I don't think that the current levels of racism in the US are primary causes for the social ills that slave descendents are suffering from. What I see is very little business investment in the African-American community, which is keeping them economically stagnant. Is this the fault of European descendents? African-Americans should be paving the way in this area.
Well, I just saw DaDa's two new threads AFTER I posted this one. I hope the subject in general isn't worn too thin around here. I thought this might actually be interesting, so keep it civil and low key if you choose to reply.
It's worth looking at to find out just how the issue has reached through generation after generation. I've always felt strongly in the impact your childhood has on your self. If you grow up in a downtrodden environment, taught the kind of values that only diminish self esteem and conviction, its going to resonate through your actions throughout the rest of your life. I thank God that my parents were supportive and had faith in me no matter what I did. They taught me that there are things I am capable of if I reach for them. I can't imagine how awful it must be to grow in an environment where such ideals are considered pipe-dreams.
