Data Bases • Custom Term Papers • Free Term Papers • Free Research Papers • Free Essays • Free Book Reports • Plagiarism? Links • Top 100 Term Paper Sites • Top 25 Essay Sites • Top 50 Essay Sites • Search 97,000 Papers @ DirectEssays.com • Search 101,000 Papers @ ExampleEssays.com • Search 90,000 Papers @ MegaEssays.com Free Essays • Term Paper Sites • Chuck III's Free Essays • Free College Essays • TermPaperSites.com • Free Essays • My Term Papers • Essay World • Planet Papers	Search Lots of Essays Back to Subjects - Government & Politics The Legacies of Slavery and Reparations The Legacies of Slavery and Reparations The Legacies of Slavery and Reparations Reparations? Just the term stirs up controversy, along with endless amounts of questions that are still to be answered. Should reparations be awarded? Is it feasible? Who should receive it? In what forms should it be given? These are only a few of the most important questions that need to be answered. To answer these questions, I will draw on the research conducted for my country study and the panel debates that were conducted over the past weeks. To fully understand my reasoning you must be informed of the approaches discussed on both sides of these debates. The pro-reparation panel’s approach to subject was a very traditional method of thought having a tangible value. They argued that millions of Africans were wrongfully displaced throughout the triangle of trade that was formed between Africa, the New World and Britain. Stripped of almost everything except their life and sometimes even that, these Africans, who were now slaves, were gathered like cattle into forts and castles along the Africa coast awaiting their long journey of no return. Thousands of Africans were thrown into dungeons without a clue of what was in store for them, nor did they know that many of them would not complete the journey of the Middle Passage. Those that were able to withstand the grueling conditions of the middle passage were than divided and redistributed for the economic gain of others. They were treated like savages, as slave owners strapped heavy metal shackles that covered their body. Linked together by chains, these slaves were again loaded and transported to the place they would call “home”. A home quite different from what they were used to abroad. All the luxuries they had in Africa soon became a vague memory as their new life as a slave became reality. Extremely long days of hard physical labor, ending sometimes with beatings, and unsanitary living conditions, is what became reality for millions of Africans who experienced the Atlantic Slave trade. Through all this they were separated from family, forced to conform to norms of an unfamiliar society, and stripped of their language and culture. They used these reasons and the idea that, selling of humans for any reason, was immoral as their main justification for reparations. They also mentioned, but did not argue, what legacies of slavery contributed to the underdevelopment of the African American society. I do agree that some legacies have contributed to current socio-economic situation, but not to its’ entirety. I believe the most influential legacy of slavery contributing to the underdevelopment of the African American society is not physical working slavery, but slavery of the mind. Before I explain my reasoning, understand that I in no way would wish slavery on any people. One could only imagine what it would be like to live as a slave. I was to simply analyze both sides of the panel’s debate and draw a conclusion based on the arguments presented. Based on the arguments presented, I deliver my opinion that reparations should not be awarded to those ancestors of the Atlantic Slave trade. I do agree with the pro-reparations panel that slave trade was and is still wrong. The selling of humans is not human and should not be tolerated. I firmly believe that slavery even though is still be conducted in remote parts of Ghana and the rest of the world, should be abolished. I just think if the any society is going to fight for reparations it should not be because of physical hardships of slavery. Furthermore, I do not believe reparations should be given, because slavery led to the underdevelopment of the African American society. The reason for this is because I feel that legacies of slavery have in numerous ways contributed to the development to the African-American society. This is because, since the abolishment of slavery, African-Americans have developed more rapidly than in any previous time before. Also, numerous institutions have been established for Africans by Africans and for the development of Africans. For example, the NAACP was formed to the betterment of African-Americans. Affirmative action, and quotas were also established for the progression of the African-American society. Although, many of these institutions and programs that benefit African-Americans were believed to be created for the protection of the white society, in turn have contributed to their development. And a major question to these institutions in regards to reparations is the question of ‘What do we do with all the programs and institutions that have been created for the advancement of African-American if reparations is found feasible’. Another reason that I do not agree with reparations is because it is impossible to start repaying people for the selling of people if slavery is occurring today. In remote parts of Ghana, mothers are selling their daughters to madams for educational purposed that are not being fulfilled. The madams convince parents who cannot put their offspring through school that they can offer their children a better future. They promise to employ the children for a certain period – generally two years – and then provide them a sewing machine and vocational training or send them to school. But they rarely keep this promise: before the end of the two years, most children run away. They realize that their madam has been cheating them, or they can no longer bear the punishments and beatings the madam inflicts on them. Before reparations can even be thought about until these acts of slavery cease. The main reason that I disagree with reparation in regards to the argument presented is that arguments failed to discuss the implications that slavery has taken on the mind of the slave. Slavery has impaired the mind of a slave with lasting legacies even today. The socio-economic position of African-Americans today is a great reflection of the legacies of slavery. Again, I will revert to my main argument, which is that the slavery of the mind encountered by the slaves should be the underlying argument for reparations. This is because as slaves, Africans did not have the luxury of formal education. The access to literature and educational material that would aid in their progression was not available. Also, slaves were not permitted to share their opinion openly, so eventually there were only memories of thought. The effect of this over an extended period of time will cause a natural stagnation of the mind. It is from this prospective that I believe that the argument for reparation should be taken. Even, the idea of changing the identity of a race is extremely inhuman. By taking this approach to this argument one can also see that the legacies of the Atlantic Slave Trade were only additions to the colonization process that the Europeans had brought to Africa. This brings me to the question of who should pay reparations. In the Atlantic Slave Trade, I believe that the European Nations of the former British Empire should hold the majority of the responsibility, Great Britain taking a even more. This is because Great Britain was the ruling country in the British Empire and the fact that they were the premeditators of the Atlantic Slave Trade. And has an Empire that was supposed educated and civilized should have the nobility to take responsibility for the actions. The other nations that participated in thee Atlantic Slave Trade should also be held partly responsible. Again, this is my opinion are based on the arguments of the panel relating to them background paper and other research about my country study. Although I can not elaborate on other aspects of this subject, I do know that as other variables are brought into the debate opinions can change. My research and knowledge on this subject, only being minimal, is simply a reflected by the position I have taken. Bibliography: Word Count: 1304
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