More than a few black political leaders, and a substantial number of their supporters, are calling for financial “Reparations” because their distant relatives were either brought to this country as slaves or were born here to slaves prior to the civil war. In addition, they say, African-Americans have, and continue to be, victims of prejudicial behavior.
We can debate the validity of their claims until Hades is buried in ice, but if that indeed ever happens we will open up a “Pandora’s Box” of immense proportions. As we look back in our history, virtually every wave of new immigrants to this nation have suffered under prejudice from those who came before them, and already had their “Piece of the Pie”.
Depending which part of the country they gravitated to on arrival, they were frequently scorned by the local residents. Swedes were outcasts in Minnesota and Wisconsin, Irish in Boston, Italians in New York City, Chinese in California and Poles whereever they went. They were referred to as “Polacks” and considered to be stupid. “Bohunks” came from central or southeastern Europe, especially Hungary, and were thought to be fit only for menial manual labor.
Worst of all, in the eyes of many, were the Irish, who began a mass migration to the United States after the Great Potato Famine which started in 1845 and caused the deaths of over a million Irish from starvation. Over a million more immigrated elsewhere, many to this country. Though they were desperately poor, they weren’t universally dishonest and ignorant as their detractors portrayed them in newspaper cartoons of the time. Shown as simian like Leprechauns, holding a glass of whisky in one hand, while picking an innocent bystanders pocket with the other, they certainly weren’t someone you wanted to move in next door or court your daughter.
Italians were depicted as cowards, a cartoon displayed an add for an Italian military rifle with a tag that said “Never fired and only dropped once!” This about a people who were descended from the Romans, who had the longest existing empire in human history, and whose legions conquered a vast part of Europe and Northern Africa. The French were equally defamed as cowards, the exploits of the armies of Napoleon Bonaparte conveniently forgotten.
So, if African-Americans are entitled to any reparations, they will have to sue the few American citizens living who had ancestors who owned a slave. Those folks are few and far between. All of us should get down on our knees every night and thank God that our ancestors DID come to this nation, in whatever circumstances, and so gave us and future generations the opportunity to live in the finest nation that has ever existed on this globe.
I wasn't equating the evil practice of slavery, which has existed throughout recorded history, and apparently is still practiced in some parts of North Africa today, with the discrimination and violence that various minority groups (of all races and creeds) suffered in the past. The facts as I see them are thus: The majority of American's ancestors arrived on our shores many years after the practice of slavery ceased to exist in this nation. Since that is undeniably the case, are the descendants of those people going to be required to pay a significant financial penalty for crimes that they or their ancestors didn't commit? That is wrong, in my opinion.
Growing up in Denver, CO, I had an opportunity to witness the social lives of many black families who had come to the area because of job opportunities during WW-II. They were religious and very family oriented. They were, as is the case in many parts of Africa, a Matriarchal society. A dominant Grandmother was the core of the family group, and everyone worked to better themselves. Although they generally lived in a specific area of the city, they were free to move elsewhere if they so chose. They was no "white flight" that I am aware of. So, as I approach my eighth decade on this planet, I don't see why I, or any member of my family should be required to pay "Reparations" to anyone. Am I wrong in that concept?
It is difficult for me to equate the discrimination that many ethnic groups face in America with the ugly realities of slavery.