OK, I'll say it... we are too sensitive

[Pea-n-Me]

Actually, I'm not.

I am sure you would be hard pressed to find a black who endured racism during that time that felt it was morally acceptable.

Stop trying to make excuses for awful behavior.

I would like to respectfully ask your opinion on something. I know you are black. And a teacher, I believe, too (if my memory serves me correctly - forgive me if I'm wrong).

In re: to slavery, as has been brought up many times on this thread.

I always thought it was white men who went over to Africa and "stole" black people as/for slaves.

I recently learned, though, that African blacks were complicit in the slave trade, too, as outlined here, from the Constitutional Rights Foundation (which, I believe, is a non-partisan, legitimate resource):

"How did an African become a slave? At first, white slave traders simply went on kidnapping raids, but this proved too dangerous for the Europeans. Instead, they established hundreds of forts and trading stations along Africa’s West Coast. Local African rulers and black merchants delivered captured people to these trading posts to sell as slaves to European ship captains.

About 50 percent of the slaves were taken as prisoners during the frequent tribal wars occurring among the West African kingdoms. Another 30 percent became slaves as punishment for crimes or indebtedness. The remainder were kidnapped by black slave traders."

If this is true, how do black people today reconcile that in their minds, that some of their own ancestors had a part in the slave trade?

Doesn't it speak, in part, for "the times", that this seemed to be ok with people?

Please know I'm not trying to be snarky, sarcastic, cryptic, or anything like that, I legitimately want to know how people feel about this.

It makes me incensed and outraged that anyone, anywhere, thought that that was ok.

And crazy enough, we do still have it happening in some parts of our world today. Against not only people of color, but women, children, ethnic minorities, and others, which brings up a lot of questions for me - probably more questions than there are answers. There seem to be people, regardless of color, creed, whatever, that are just evil, and only care about what's in it for them, and not about individual human rights.

 

[TipsyTraveler]

I would like to respectfully ask your opinion on something. I know you are black. And a teacher, I believe, too (if my memory serves me correctly - forgive me if I'm wrong).

In re: to slavery, as has been brought up many times on this thread.

I always thought it was white men who went over to Africa and "stole" black people as/for slaves.

I recently learned, though, that African blacks were complicit in the slave trade, too, as outlined here, from the Constitutional Rights Foundation (which, I believe, is a non-partisan, legitimate resource):

"How did an African become a slave? At first, white slave traders simply went on kidnapping raids, but this proved too dangerous for the Europeans. Instead, they established hundreds of forts and trading stations along Africa’s West Coast. Local African rulers and black merchants delivered captured people to these trading posts to sell as slaves to European ship captains.

About 50 percent of the slaves were taken as prisoners during the frequent tribal wars occurring among the West African kingdoms. Another 30 percent became slaves as punishment for crimes or indebtedness. The remainder were kidnapped by black slave traders."

If this is true, how do black people today reconcile that in their minds, that some of their own ancestors had a part in the slave trade?

Doesn't it speak, in part, for "the times", that this seemed to be ok with people?

Please know I'm not trying to be snarky, sarcastic, cryptic, or anything like that, I legitimately want to know how people feel about this.

It makes me incensed and outraged that anyone, anywhere, thought that that was ok.

And crazy enough, we do still have it happening in some parts of our world today. Against not only people of color, but women, children, ethnic minorities, and others, which brings up a lot of questions for me - probably more questions than there are answers. There seem to be people, regardless of color, creed, whatever, that are just evil, and only care about what's in it for them, and not about individual human rights.

Did you really just ask someone to answer a slavery question on behalf of all black people because she’s black?

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Did you really just ask someone to answer a slavery question on behalf of all black people because she’s black?

I asked her opinion when her comment made me think of it. Is that ok with you, or do you want to tell me what I can and cannot think or ask?

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Did you really just ask someone to answer a slavery question on behalf of all black people because she’s black?

You’re welcome to give your opinion, as well.

 

[cabanafrau]

Did you really just ask someone to answer a slavery question on behalf of all black people because she’s black?

IMO that's a really ugly spin on a question that seemed to be asked in the spirit of, how do you as a person of African ancestry view this aspect of the issue?

 

[TipsyTraveler]

IMO that's a really ugly spin on a question that seemed to be asked in the spirit of, how do you as a person of African ancestry view this aspect of the issue?

And IMO, I was appalled by Pea’s post. I won’t be discussing it further because I won’t be able to speak openly about it without incurring points and/or being banned.

 

[penn19]

And IMO, I was appalled by Pea’s post. I won’t be discussing it further because I won’t be able to speak openly about it without incurring points and/or being banned.

We learn nothing if we can’t speak about anything. She had a question. Should she not have asked? Asked only white people? Taken a poll of only black people? How many is enough black people to make it a valid poll? So many questions.

 

[LSUmiss]

I would like to respectfully ask your opinion on something. I know you are black. And a teacher, I believe, too (if my memory serves me correctly - forgive me if I'm wrong).

In re: to slavery, as has been brought up many times on this thread.

I always thought it was white men who went over to Africa and "stole" black people as/for slaves.

I recently learned, though, that African blacks were complicit in the slave trade, too, as outlined here, from the Constitutional Rights Foundation (which, I believe, is a non-partisan, legitimate resource):

"How did an African become a slave? At first, white slave traders simply went on kidnapping raids, but this proved too dangerous for the Europeans. Instead, they established hundreds of forts and trading stations along Africa’s West Coast. Local African rulers and black merchants delivered captured people to these trading posts to sell as slaves to European ship captains.

About 50 percent of the slaves were taken as prisoners during the frequent tribal wars occurring among the West African kingdoms. Another 30 percent became slaves as punishment for crimes or indebtedness. The remainder were kidnapped by black slave traders."

If this is true, how do black people today reconcile that in their minds, that some of their own ancestors had a part in the slave trade?

Doesn't it speak, in part, for "the times", that this seemed to be ok with people?

Please know I'm not trying to be snarky, sarcastic, cryptic, or anything like that, I legitimately want to know how people feel about this.

It makes me incensed and outraged that anyone, anywhere, thought that that was ok.

And crazy enough, we do still have it happening in some parts of our world today. Against not only people of color, but women, children, ethnic minorities, and others, which brings up a lot of questions for me - probably more questions than there are answers. There seem to be people, regardless of color, creed, whatever, that are just evil, and only care about what's in it for them, and not about individual human rights.

You weren’t asking me, but there are sometimes women complicit in helping to sex traffic other women. That doesn’t mean it’s ok to do b/c other women are doing it. And, as a woman, I have no need to reconcile that behavior either. It’s reprehensible no matter who is involved.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

And IMO, I was appalled by Pea’s post. I won’t be discussing it further because I won’t be able to speak openly about it without incurring points and/or being banned.

I am not sure what you are appalled about.

 

[cabanafrau]

You weren’t asking me, but there are sometimes women complicit in helping to sex traffic other women. That doesn’t mean it’s ok to do b/c other women are doing it. And, as a woman, I have no need to reconcile that behavior either. It’s reprehensible no matter who is involved.

Did you think Pea's question somehow attempted to suggest there is somehow an acceptable explanation for slavery? That wasn't in any way shape or form my takeaway.

 

[Kaleidodad]

Yikes... seems like it's about time to close this one down.

 

[b2k1121]

Did you think Pea's question somehow attempted to suggest there is somehow an acceptable explanation for slavery? That wasn't in any way shape or form my takeaway.

To me it sounded like a way to shift blame from white people to everyone. Otherwise, what was the point of the question?

 

[kaytieeldr]

I am sure you would be hard pressed to find a black who endured racism during that time that felt it was morally acceptable.

You would probably be hard pressed to find a black person who remembers that period. Average life span for anyone born in 1930 was 59.7.

Holy cow, that woman’s voice is terrible.

Odd. She was known as Songbird of the South.

 

[LSUmiss]

Did you think Pea's question somehow attempted to suggest there is somehow an acceptable explanation for slavery? That wasn't in any way shape or form my takeaway.

She asked how does a black person reconcile in their mind that other black ppl were complicit & does that speak to the times of it being “ok” to some. My answer is that I don’t feel the need to reconcile that some women have been complicit in sex trafficking & that doesn’t mean it’s considered “ok” either.

 

[LSUmiss]

To me it sounded like a way to shift blame from white people to everyone. Otherwise, what was the point of the question?

I don’t know if pea meant in that way, but historically, that’s how the info has been used.

 

[Hikergirl]

Shhh, can't talk about the history we don't like.
Throughout history white people are bad, that is all you need to know, and curse you if you bring up any facts that may show whites weren't the only bad ones, and question anyone about them.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

Did you really just ask someone to answer a slavery question on behalf of all black people because she’s black?

 

[Pea-n-Me]

The point I was responding to was that one would be hard pressed to find a black who found racism morally acceptable.

Much of the discussion here has been about whether a "moral code" changes over time.

I was surprised to learn that African blacks were complicit in the slave trade. This was something I recently learned, and I wonder how blacks feel about that. At that time, some apparently found slavery morally acceptable, so, to me, it spoke to what we've been talking about.

I am appalled at the thought that it happened, and I'm appalled that it still happens today.

I suppose this is why people don't want to say anything sometimes.

 

[luvsJack]

She asked how does a black person reconcile in their mind that other black ppl were complicit & does that speak to the times of it being “ok” to some. My answer is that I don’t feel the need to reconcile that some women have been complicit in sex trafficking & that doesn’t mean it’s considered “ok” either.

But you well know that is not what Pea asked. No reason whatsoever to make it seem like a racist statement of some kind. Same thing with @TipsyTraveler question. The PP asked "AS A BLACK WOMAN. . ." not to answer for all black women but to answer as a black woman that is going to perhaps have a different take on it. Gee Whiz, talk about trying to make something out of nothing. And no one is shifting blame, that's ridiculous. There is plenty of blame for those dark times to go around to everyone, no reason to argue over it.

Of course it doesn't make anything "OK", she nor anyone said it did. Slavery was a part of society at the time. Was it wrong? Yes, just as it was when so many other races and nationalities of people Was it normal then? Yes. You twist words and read things that aren't there all you want about it but those two facts remain. She was simply asking, with the knowledge that Africans were selling their own people to the slave traders tell us how it was considered normal at the time.

 

[DeniseJH]

In the 30's it was. I am not applying todays moral code to society 80 years ago, that is wrong.

Edited to add:
The tide was turning towards it not being ok but it still was. Oftentimes people have to be drug kicking and screaming into the new reality. That kicking and screaming was demonstrated during the civil rights movement.

Even though some of the government and civil rights activists were working to change peoples beliefs, events from 1954-1968 demonstrated that it was not even a 50/50 belief in equality by the general populace.

If you're saying that those racists didn't know that they were wrong, and that that was the majority of the country, I'm going to say that I believe you are incorrect. You are entitled to your own opinion, but that is mine.