Only logged in members can reply and interact with the post.
Join SimilarWorlds for FREE »

Should the US pay African Americans reparations for slavery

Poll - Total Votes: 56
Yes. That number is worth it
I wanna pay but that's too much money
I don't wanna pay but I do think they deserve something else
No. They don't deserve anything
Show Results
You can only vote on one answer.
I just ran some simple numbers.

By the time of slavery's abolition the US had condoned slavery for 88 years (1864-1776).

Around that time the average wage of someone of their occupation was $10/year making the total sum owed in 1864 to be $880.

With inflation that would be worth $22,500 today.

Assuming we literally paid every single African American (which we wouldn't) that means the US would have to give them $945B (based on a population of 42M African Americans).

Given this data, would you accept that $945B is an acceptable sum to pay to finally repay the ancestors of slaves and finally remove the idea of white guilt from US culture?
This page is a permanent link to the reply below and its nested replies. See all post replies »
Quizzical · 46-50, M
I think it should be paid to anyone living today that can prove they used to be a slave...
@Quizzical be a slave or a descendant of a slave?
Quizzical · 46-50, M
@Qwerty14 No, an actual slave.

The descendants live in the most powerful, privileged and possibly technological country in the world... they have NOTHING to complain about.

(Yet constantly do)
@Quizzical the US is definitely the most powerful... But privileged and technological... Not even close
Quizzical · 46-50, M
@Qwerty14 Hmmm, where do you feel the US falls down on privilege?
@Quizzical Well you lack basic amenities for your people, you have systemic racism and sexism, you have a major wealth divide etc etc
Quizzical · 46-50, M
@Qwerty14 We??

I'm from the UK, lol
@Quizzical Apologies. They lol
Quizzical · 46-50, M
@Qwerty14 Thank you 😂
@Quizzical And I just can't get past the fact that they lack basic free health care for their people. The UK was smart making that a top priority after WWII
Quizzical · 46-50, M
@Qwerty14 I like to think that the UK is one of the best mixes of restrained capitalism and socialism in the world.
@Quizzical It's definitely trying to wear two hats that's for sure. That's why Brexit is a total fuck up. You wanna be independent but also part of the group
Quizzical · 46-50, M
@Qwerty14 We should never have allowed ourselves to get involved with the group as a political body and just stuck with the trade agreements that we originally joined for.
@Quizzical Yeah I think every EU nation has found that out. But none of them are dumb enough to leave
Quizzical · 46-50, M
@Qwerty14 Brave enough to leave... lol

The whole thing is a gravy train for EU officials, and we really are being used as a piggy bank with huge fines being imposed for the most ridiculous of little things.