Should reparations be made in recognition of slavery?

[Master Ray]

So... reparations for black slavery? As Mr Cameron (much as I dislike him) quite frankly told the Jamaicans today, it's over. IMO.

It was an awful thing. But it's generations ago. Slavery has existed since time immemorial; every civilisation engaged in it when they were in a strong enough position to do so. If West Africa had held sway over Europe in the 17th and 18th centuries, it'd have been European slaves sent over the Atlantic to work in the West African new world colonies.

I never had anything to do with slavery, neither did my parents or grandparents. Why should we, via our taxes and supposed guilt feel obliged to hand out millions or billions? Or should us UK folks start suing any country connected with the Romans, The Saxons, The Vikings, anyone who came to this country and did dreadful things many, many years ago?

Well, I guess that makes me a massive racist... 

[Pol]

I'm in agreement, just how far could you go back, who would compensate who. Punishing all the current tax very unfair where would it end. Would money make it alright , how much would be enough.

" Those days are past now and in the past they must remain"

[Shush]

Well, I guess that makes me a massive racist... 

No, not at all !!

you're not massive 

I do agree though. I am not guilty for anyone else's mistakes other than my own and do not want to pay for mistakes of 200 years ago. If it the UK public were to pay then, how could that be right. There are millions of people in the UK today who's ancestors of 200 odd years ago were in different countries  -- including Jamaica !!

[Ron B]

 Let me say as an American of African descent No. At this time and period in American society. It would not make sense  for one.  2) How would you calculate an amount that would be rewarded 3) what would those who get the money what would we do with it. ? If by some possible miracle it was to ever happen I know what I would do with it but others Let me just say knowing the Brothers in my Hood some would do the right thing others it would just be wasted on crap and you can name the consumable items that are popular in Todays society.  Owning slaves in America  happen over  100 years ago and all those during that time are dead.  Are there still Racist ideas about people of color still around Of course just take a listen to The Republicans who are running for President Instead of Blacks they now complain about Brown people who they believe are flooding in from Mexico and Latin America. They trade one group for another to be the Boogey man  to put down and insult.

[Rusco]

It's unbelievable to think how much the world has changed in only one 100 years. Also if we'd imagine when women were allowed to vote for the first time...?  Shame on humankind.

Uh, all we can say is that was a totally different world then.

[Master Ray]

I also think it seems that it's the governments who want the money, not any individual who could prove that their ancestors suffered... hm, where EXACTLY would that money go?

I guess I read The Guardian too much... in some ways, just as bad as the Daily Mail in view of whipping up hysteria...

you're not massive 

Not the first time I've heard that...   

[andydrbeard]

Totally agree with Master Ray and all he says on this, Cameron is a complete plastic faced scuzz ball but he's right on this.

The slave trade could not have operated without other Africans. How many Europeans were able to operate in tropical Africa during the 16,17,18th centuries when slavery first started without medicines - answer very few. The Americas and West Indies may have provided a greater market but it was already happening and still is to the shame of many countries. Do peoples of African descent start asking other modern Africans for reparations for slavery - they should if they ask it of anyone.

[Anna Woman von NRW]

2) How would you calculate an amount that would be rewarded

Exactly, how on earth do you go about assessing a value, how do you moneterize (made up a word there I think  ) the damages payable for slavery? A part of me is kinda offended by the idea that such an evil can somehow be "paid off".

Uh, all we can say is that was a totally different world then.

Ja that's pretty much it isn't it? If no living person on the planet bears personal responsibility for the crime there is nowhere to go is there? Maybe, that's the point where something becomes history.

The slave trade could not have operated without other Africans.

 The Americas and West Indies may have provided a greater market but it was already happening and still is to the shame of many countries. Do peoples of African descent start asking other modern Africans for reparations for slavery - they should if they ask it of anyone.

Good points, Slavery was and still is a TRADE where a buyer and a seller make a deal over a commodity - in this case  a Human Being - and so if responsibility is being apportioned for a historical wrong then all involved must be made to pay. In which case where do you stop? After all Britons were slaves in Rome so are we due to a cashback from the Italians now?    And that's just a starter for ten ............. how many other countries/races/ethnic groups have enslavement in their ancestral history?

If the UK could find cash for paying off history there would be no excuse for not stumping up the cash to fight modern slavery would there?

https://modernslavery.co.uk/index.html

[Rusco]

Romans were a thing it's hard to even consider them being namely "Italians". Well of course we know they were and their power was centered in Rome, but to think how much the conquer affected to whole Europe and caused some new things to start. I think some of the most unbelievable things were that they moved their capital to Byzantine (Istanbul nowadays) which was later on one of the main centres concerning the churches, their architecture and Christianity in general known in the form it's today. And not to forget the Iconoclasm (so called icon wars) that lasted for 75 years in Byzantine. What a huge impact made with insane and senseless spilling of blood and murder.

[Coumarin]

No. that's history. And lessons learned I hope. I would like to think we have moved on