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by Anonymous on December 19th, 2006
Are there more black catholics than other black christians?
by Answerbag Staff on December 28th, 2010
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Are there more black catholics than other black christians?
by Answerbag Staff on March 28th, 2010
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Native American communities in this country are among the most impoverished in North America. Isn't action long overdue?
by DIYman Believes In Leonard Peltier on March 1st, 2012
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Can a black person get a black eye?
by Ombliss22 on March 1st, 2012
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Are you more or less likely to be attracted to someone of your own race?
by Isaac on December 18th, 2011
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You're reading What is it that African Americans are supposed to 'get over' where slavery is concerned.
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Comments
Their ancestors would NOT have been "left in Africa," their ancestors would have been EATEN. Almost all were prisoners of war.
by Roger Kovaciny on December 19th, 2006
What an "interesting" line of discussion. I personally believe that internalizing hate (regardless of what happened) keeps me enslaved. I actually advocate/counsel (professionally) minorities to forgive. My question was born of YEARS of hearing self-proclaimed racists say that "blacks" (not always the word used) should "get over 'it'" I wanted to know what a community (like Answerbag) not commited to racism might respond. Since you imply that African Americans should consider how fortunate they are because of slavery, do you also believe that Native Americans might consider how fortunate they are because of the changes white Americans had on the lives of their ancestors?
by TaoZen on December 19th, 2006
Well, there are a number of improvements that American Indians* have reaped from their association with Europeans. Despite what some people would have you believe, this was not a paradise under the indians. They fought wars against each other and really were not all that ecologically friendly. They were also technologically stagnant. As a result of Europeans, they are no longer fighting amongst themselves and they now benefit from much of the technological advancements that they would have missed out on had Europeans never come here. Things still are perfect for them, but I would say that they are better off now than they were before the Europeans came along. ....................................*I don't like the term Native American because everyone born in this country is a native American regardless of ancestry.
by Glenn Blaylock on January 7th, 2007
TaoZen - Unfortunately, the person who answered this question is one of the least sensitive people answering questions on Answerbag.
by Jodie44 on January 8th, 2007
I'd rather be truthful and right than sensitive . If you'd rather see a “sensitive” answer than a truthful one, Jodie, then perhaps you should submit one yourself.
by Anonymous on January 8th, 2007
I picked up on that Jodie44. It's very sad when one's life experiences leads them to confuse personal opinion with universal truth.
by TaoZen on January 8th, 2007
Bob, I hope you'll discover at some point that truth and sensitivity can work together beautifully. I'm sorry you feel one excludes the other, but sadly, I'm not surprised.
by Jodie44 on January 8th, 2007
Yes, truth and sensitivity can coexist. However, some people use sensitivity an excuse to avoid the truth. The truth is not always pretty or sensitive.
by Glenn Blaylock on January 8th, 2007
Glenn, there's no need to patronize me. I'm not an idiot, and this is as much about good manners and consideration for the feelings of others as it is the truth. You can present facts in a straightforward and honest fashion with tact and graciousness. Millions of people do it everyday. Your brother displays a notable lack of warmth and concern towards other Baggers, and believe me, I've heard his conduct characterized much less benignly on several other occasions. You and I may perceive a certain truth as ugly, but so what? "Honest" does not always call for abrupt and blunt, and candor does not preclude courtesy. I realize this is pretty much a waste of time because both of you are always right, no matter what the issue is, and, of course, you always have the last word. Knock yourselves out.
by Jodie44 on January 8th, 2007
What did you expecd? I posted a perfectly fine answer, and rather than addressing anything to do with that answer or the question, all you've done is use it as an excuse to gratuitously insult me. That's OK, I can take insults. But if you're going to insult others, then it comes across rather badly when you take offense at any criticism that you receive in return. My brother is a lot more polite than I am. If he's criticizing or patronizing or otherwise insulting you, then you can pretty well bet that you deserved it. Admittedly, this isn't always so much the case from me.
by Anonymous on January 9th, 2007
I personally hope thatA/B is a forum in which people can answer truthfully if everyone started churning out the same mantra it would be pretty boring I like straightforward people it opens up debate.
by porshacat on January 17th, 2007
Judging from the other comments, there seems to be something going on behind the scenes that is not apparent to passersby like me.
by Pogster on January 31st, 2007
...Are you seriously suggesting there is ANY reason for a descendent of a slave to be glad or thankful that slavery happened? What are you smoking? I don't mean to offend, but that is completely ridiculous. Knowing the way Africa is now, I still doubt any black person would choose to go through slavery as a way to end up in America. Get your head straight. It was a horror that never should've happened and there is NO reason to consider it ANYTHING other than that.
by Icebox April on March 4th, 2007
The modern-day descendants of slaves never had to endure the horror of slavery. It was their ancestors — now long gone — who endured this. The fact remains that as a direct result of slavery, the descendants of those slaves now get to enjoy a much better life, here in America, than they would could ever possibly have had in Africa; and yes, this is something for which they ought to be very thankful.
by Anonymous on March 4th, 2007
Let me just add this to my brother's response. I don't think that either of us is trying to justify slavery. Slavery, as practiced by the southern states, was a great evil. However, remember the old saying, "Every dark cloud has a silver lining." The dark cloud was slavery. The silver lining is that the descendants of the slaves live under much better conditions than they could hope for in most of Africa. So, while slavery was terrible, a lot of good came out of it for the descendants of the slaves.
by Glenn Blaylock on March 4th, 2007
I"m glad you spoke up, Glenn. Your brother comes across like the Grand Imperial Wizard.
by Jodie44 on March 4th, 2007
Actually, weareallhypocrites, quite a few of my ancestors went through very similar treatment. In the case of my ancestors, they were raped, murdered, pillaged and driven from their homes, not because of the color of their skin, but as a result of religious persecution. However, despite the fact that all of this was done with the sanction (sometimes openly so and sometimes by simply refusing to take action to protect those that were wronged) of various officials of the various state and federal agencies of the US, I still think that this is a great country. I don't have much respect for those committee those crimes against my ancestors, but I don't keep moaning over the fact that those injustices occurred either.
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You can keep blaming past mistakes by people who are long dead for the problems that occur today, but there comes a point where people have to take responsibility for their own lives. Thus it is for the people of Africa today.
by Glenn Blaylock on June 14th, 2009
"However bad you might think you have it here in America, is there any place in Africa that wouldn't be much, much worse? "
Almost like saing: "If it weren't for your mother dying, you getting aids, an your onl dog and lover getting hit a car you wuldn't be able to gt this scholarship! Aren't you happy?!?"
Also, most Blacks *are* over Slavery. They get upset over normal things just like you. I've never met Black person who was angry over Slaver, mybe somethign mor recent but never seriousl angry-angry and spitful over slavery.
Also, remember that it' a different history. Diferent people. Diffeent race. DIfferent countr Different ituaito. And diferent methods of keeping slave in lin a well as resons to have slavs (and how a persn decided that a Colin would be a slave but David wouldn't...race was the deciding factor with that one, which is not the case in a lot of other countries history)
by thewallfly on September 23rd, 2009
Africa's state of disarray can be directly linked to the impositions caused by Imperialism and colonialism. Africa is messed up because of the presence of Europeans disrupting the already established power structure. The European demand for slavery increased the amount of warfare to get them the slaves they needed.
And Native Americans a better ipod cause them the vast majority of their occupational territory and wiped out entire tribes. But at least that have that ipod, right? Who needed that 90% of the Native population that got wiped. But at least the descendants of the 10% have TV.
by Anonymous on December 18th, 2009