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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
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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?
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PlumBerries · 31-35, F
[c=#7700B2]the ones who were actually slaves should have been given some sort of reparation once they were free.. Anyone else who is African American and was never a slave should have nothing owed to them.
You start giving people reparations due to their race and what others went through, when does it end with people getting handouts?
I am sure people of every race has been through some really bad times in history, should everyone today who never went though that be paid for it? no[/c]
@PlumBerries They were owed reparations. Reparations they never got. And how were they ever going to complain. They didn't get the right to vote until 100 years later after all of them had died. So how can you argue that's fair? Seriously, if you can justify it then maybe you have a point
PlumBerries · 31-35, F
[c=#7700B2]I never once said anything about what is fair. Life is not fair.. As harsh as that sounds, it is what it is. [/c]
@PlumBerries Well if you don't care about the rights of African Americans then obviously this doesn't concern you. This is about people wanting what is fair for them
PlumBerries · 31-35, F
[c=#7700B2]I never said I don't care about what happened to them. It was truly horrible, but people act as though they are still slaves and don't have equal rights when that is not the case.
I don't hold myself responsible for what others did and no one who was not involved should have to pay for it or feel guilty over it.

And most of the people who were slaves I am sure are not even alive to this day[/c]
@PlumBerries People affected by America's systemic racism are still alive today. Do they deserve reparations in your eyes?
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@AgapeLove It isnt BA sorry.

Also we aren't talking about other nations in this question. If you wanna do a bigger question about all nations paying reparations go ahead but this is just about the US and whether they should do something to make up for the years of racism, discrimination and slavery towards African Americans
PlumBerries · 31-35, F
[c=#7700B2]so should anyone who has suffered racial discrimination be paid for it? I stick to my original comment. Those who were not slaves and went through that are owed nothing and the ones who did go through it should have been given something for it.
I think people nowadays just use what happened in the past to others as someway for them to get a hand out due to others suffering and I am firmly against that.. I have no guilt over what others did in the past and neither should anyone who had no involvement in it, so why should they pay for the actions of others?[/c]
@PlumBerries it is interesting how all Australians on this feed think like this. Keep Australia White aye. Abos don't deserve anything... Smh
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@AgapeLove I didn't generalise all Australians. Just noticed the Aussies in the thread all answered in the same fashion. If you take offense to that fact then I'm sorry but at the same time it doesn't change that fact.
@AgapeLove The US had a double standard to begin with. That's why this whole thing exists. If they treated African people fairly from the start there would be no need for repair
PlumBerries · 31-35, F
@Qwerty14 [c=#7700B2]seriously? you trying to make me out as a racist now because I don't believe people don't deserve hand outs because of their race and history that they had no part in..

Sorry that you assume anyone with actual common sense is a racist but that is just simply not the case. I am so tired of people like you claiming others are a racist because they don't agree with your opinion.

You try generalising all Australians but maybe instead of us being racist, we just have more common sense compared to you[/c]
@PlumBerries Keep Australia White is a genuine politic view many Australians have today. Parties still run on that slogan. It isn't my fault your nation has white supremacists. Take offense to your own nation being stupid, not me pointing it out.
PlumBerries · 31-35, F
[c=#7700B2]keep Australia white? have you ever been here? Australia is not White.. We are multi cultural here. Maybe learn about a Country before saying such stupid things about it[/c]
@PlumBerries is right @Qwerty14. Just because a few dim wits (proportionally) have that view, calling it a genuine view is a bit of a stretch. Every country across the world has some nutters, but the vast majority understand that Australia is home to people from many different nations
@PlumBerries I've been to Australia more times than I can count. I live in New Zealand so I know it well. And the other week my nation was attacked by an Aussie who believed in the "Keep Australia White" slogan. So don't pretend white supremacy doesn't exist there
@BeefySenpie I am not generalising all of Australia. But to pretend you guys don't have racist politicians who actively wanna "keep Australia White" is ignorant. There's a problem that needs to be addressed
PlumBerries · 31-35, F
[c=#7700B2]Oh so because one person believed one thing and committed a horrible crime, that makes a whole country racist? gee I am learning a lot tonight 🤦‍♀️[/c]
@PlumBerries Again I'm not talking about all of Australia. You made that leap.
@Qwerty14 We're well aware of it, but you can't just remove all people with radical views in a democratic society where people are allowed to voice their opinions, even ridiculous ones

You wouldn't know this but 1M people signed a petition regarding Anning. Plenty of us think he's an idiot, but getting him kicked from his position ain't that simple
PlumBerries · 31-35, F
[c=#7700B2]no you claimed that when you went on about Australians and keep Australia white garbage and every Aussie who posted in this thread is the same and because the actions of one person means Australia has a white supremacy problem and also our politicians are racist as well. Certainly doesn't sound like you are generalizing at all.
You deemed me racist because I disagree with you and later say I shouldn't be offended with you but my country instead.
There only seems to be you here that is discriminating against people. Maybe you should look into that[/c]