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? asked in Arts & HumanitiesHistory · 8 months ago

What did former slaves get in return for slavery?

After slavery had been abolished in the US, has America given anything to African Americans in compensation for the centuries of free forced labor that they and their ancestors provided? Given that slavery pretty much fueled the nations economy. I’m not talking about now but immediately after the emancipation proclamation. Although I see why many are fighting for it. 

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  • Anonymous
    8 months ago
    Favourite answer

    Nope. Slave holders got compensated by the govt for loses, but not the slaves. It's too late now I think and wouldn't solve anything. It should have happened in 1865.

  • Anonymous
    8 months ago

    "Forty acres and a mule is part of Special Field Orders No. 15, a wartime order proclaimed by Union General William Tecumseh Sherman on January 16, 1865 during the American Civil War, to allot land to some freed families, in plots of land no larger than 40 acres." 

    When the slaves were freed, it's those people who deserved compensation for the oppression. Seeking compensation for individual people generations later sounds like an unwarranted handout to me. However, I'm open to debating the start of a fund that distributes variously w/ discretion. 

    Bottom line, too many handouts as it is. We need a provisional balanced budget amendment that holds the politicians accountable for the reckless spending. If there's a settlement for the former slaves, where does that money come from?

  • Lv 6
    8 months ago

    The term "slavery" has been propagandized to infer that persons of color were beaten, whipped, and forced to work from sunup to sunset at hard labor by tyrannical masters.

    A speech by former slave John Berry Meachum called, "An Address to All the Colored Citizens of the United States" in 1846 paints a different picture.

    It tells of how he had a kind master who, in his advanced years allowed him to work and earn money to buy his freedom. In addition, he also both the freedom of his father, mother, the rest of his family as well as many others.

    He also talks about other format slaves who worked to pay him back.

    This strongly suggests that there were, in fact, opportunities for African-Americans all along. So, what happened?

    Booker T Washington was working to help blacks integrate into the white society through education, hard work, and mutual respect. These traits are reflected in John Berry Meachum's speech. And Washinton was very successful.

    Then the NAACP came along to thwart Washington's efforts. They were specifically established to divide the races to weaken the nation (this is documented, and not just opinion).

    Today you have demands for reparations - reparations for what?

    Getting paid for the work someone else did is pure Socialism. You can sugar-coat it all you want to make it sound better, but that's exactly what it is.

    This is why the Democrats are so in favor of it. Once this precedent is set, it opens the door to entitlements for all.

    Here is a little history that people choose to ignore:

    1) The slaves that were brought to America from Africa had a lot to be thankful for. Tribal wars were going on and those who were captured were either made slaves of their enemies or killed outright if they had no usefulness.

    The option of being sent to America was the one thing that saves most of their lives.

    2) Slavery is commonly seen as a very bad and discriminating thing. But based on the Joan Berry Meachum address, it was much more tolerable than what is being claimed.

    The one photo that is shown which depicts how slaves were beaten is just that - one photo. The subject's name is "Peter" - sometimes called "Gordon" (probably a surname).

    There are many other pictures of slaves that show a basic contemporary life with no sign of ill-treatment. But these are never shown because they don't invoke sympathy against slavery like the one of Gordon does.

    To successfully promote an agenda, the best tool to use is sympathy.

    3) Another piece of historical evidence is from a Youtube video of an actual Civil War veteran, Julius Howell who states that the Civil War was not about slavery - a point that Lincoln himself substantiated:"My paramount object in this struggle is to save the Union, and is not either to save or to destroy slavery." - to Horace Greely, editor of the New York Tribune, August 22, 1862

    But documented proof means nothing to those who are in denial. They see the world the way they want to see it - they don't let facts get in the way.

    John Berry Meachum, An Address to All the Colored Citizens of the United States, 1846:

    http://nationalhumanitiescenter.org/pds/maai/emanc...

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qej_UMPVJPs

  • Anonymous
    8 months ago

    Nothing.

    Lies about 40 acres and a mule. Similar to the lies told to the natives before genocide......🤔

    A pattern of lies up until this day. Trump, Bush, etc.

    AND STILL think they should be believed....lol

  • Anonymous
    8 months ago

    Fueled the nations economy... maybe the southern states economy but certainly not the entire nation.

  • 8 months ago

    Either a return to Africa or 40 acres and a mule. Have you priced land lately? That isn't anything to sneeze at.

  • Anonymous
    8 months ago

    Why would they 345,000 dead soldiers to make them free pays any debt.   BTW:  First slaves in 1619 were owned by whom, and in slavery how long?

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