Ith went off about a new Los Angeles Law.
Why is it these "Black leaders" don't sound anything like the Blacks I work with? They certainly have a different take on the disparity between Blacks and Whites, and doesn't have anything to do with slavery. all [sic] this reparations movement is, is a shakedown. These "leaders" kick up a (bad) publicity storm, and these companies fold because they're terrified of being labeled "racist". They need to stop letting themselves be extorted, they need to stand up and say "no more!". Because if they don't, these people will never stop.
I cannot advocate condoning all that has been done throughout American History, but all of the people involved in slavery are dead . . . including the slaves. There are no victims of slavery left. Every descendant of any prior U.S. slave has had every opportunity since the day they were born to be anything any other American can be. The only impediment to their success is their unwillingness to put the past in its place and start acting like Americans.
I dislike the term African-American. American is American is American. We come in all shapes, sizes, colors, as well as national and ethnic backgrounds. Black is descriptive, if description is necessary. Race is a myth. Many prior immigrants came to America under dire circumstances. Blacks, alone, did not arrive in the bellies of ships; blacks, alone, did not come to America as slave labor. Other immigrants actually sold themselves into slavery as indentured servants just to pay for their passage in the steerage of a ship to America. People came here to find a better life, if not for themselves, for their descendants. America does not provide anyone a better life, but it NOW provides everyone with an opportunity to seek a better life.
The only difference between the black slaves and the indentured servants is that the blacks came involuntarily. I grant them that. And any that want to give up the opportunity of life in America to take themselves and the bones of their ancestors back to the land where their ancestor originated, I will agree are owed reparations: the price of first-class air fare and shipping of any ancestral remains to their country of origin, provided that they agree to renounce their US citizenship upon departure. I am not sure who should be responsible for payment of such reparations, but I think there might be several organizations that would likely be willing to provide the funding.
[rave for Ith . . . the law rates a rag . . . my rant]
Posted by Tiger at May 31, 2003 05:54 PM | TrackBackthanks for the kind words :)
Posted by: Ith at June 1, 2003 04:47 PMThank you! I've been trying to put the words together and here you've done it for me, and a lovely job of it at that.
Good post.
Every descendant of any prior U.S. slave has had every opportunity since the day they were born to be anything any other American can be.
Sorry Tiger, this is just not true. By 1899 after the failed Reconstruction experiment, black disenfranchisement in the South was complete. Poll taxes, literacy rules, sheer intimidation used to enforce this unconstitutional practice. Just one example.
The only impediment to their success is their unwillingness to put the past in its place and start acting like Americans. A comparison for you. Blacks from the West Indies come to this country and are substantially more successful than their black counterparts. However, most of this success is limited to the first generation. Why? Studies have shown that suceeding generations tend to do just as well (or badly) as their American counterparts. Why? They are more accutely aware of racism & discrimination than their parents and exhibit a higher degree of apathy than their parents.
I will agree are owed reparations: the price of first-class air fare and shipping of any ancestral remains to their country of origin:Despite the popularity of "Roots" and the movement in the 70's to find out "who you were," the vast majority of blacks have no idea what country their ancestors come from, much less any idea where any of their slave ancestors are buried.
*Also, I would like to add that although slavery officially ended in 1865, slavery really did not end until the mid 60's. There were no whips or chains, but blacks were under enough mental & social control that one might have well called it slavery.
I find it troubling that you think that the effects of slavery no longer exist in society. I can provide numerous examples to support my argument if you desire. I won't clog up your comments section.
Posted by: Glenn at June 13, 2003 11:57 PMI used to think that Blacks had it ok, but now I don't think so. Check out www.lucentsucks.com
Posted by: russell at July 9, 2003 03:06 AMyou are the type of white person that makes the educated black americans understand that white people truly believe their own lies.tell the u.s. government to apologize for their in-actions of not holding up the constitution that all men are created equal and that we all pay taxes for equal representation. you have distorted the truth for hundreds of years and want black america to forget that slavery never happened but it did,along with other in-justise to people of all color including poor whites.the facts are that corporations and slaves owners profited along with the u.s gov. finally the point of a first class ticket back to africa just shows that you have been a spoiled white that never had to worry about none of the pitfalls of living under the microscope of his skin color,because white has always been right.tell the truth for once,blacks have done a lot to help build and defend this country thru all adversity,but still suffer the most of social and economics ills of the country. you need to stop all your racist b.s. lies and just tell the truth,what if the shoe was on the other foot.
Posted by: eggiewiggie at October 23, 2003 02:00 PM