Should America be sued or otherwise held responsible for its role in slavery?

Question

Its as contradictory and hypocritical for America to reprimand Iran, the n**i's, and anyone else to participated in crimes against humanity when it in itself has never made significant attempts to reconcile slavery and the civil rights violations they are guilty of. Blacks were forced to fight in wars, knowing they were fighting for the freedom of their slave masters and the continuation of their own enslavement. Our constitution and declaration of independence are documents created by slave owners and racist. Why have black people been compelled to obey sucg documents when it has been the force behind our suffering.

Answer 1

Then our nation would be sued for killing the Indians, not controlling our borders or enforcing laws against aliens, for locking up Japanese people who were US citizens, conspiring to sentence people to prison who aren't guilty, and lying to get us into a unneeded war in Iraq. Since most times, less than half of eligible citizens bother to vote, we are just getting what we deserve.

Answer 2

Who will pay for this?

I don't remember owning any slaves.  My ancestors also never owned any slaves...

Or am I to be considered a devil slave-master simply because of the color of my skin?

Answer 3

No, the US should NOT be sued. There was a terrible war over slavery, remember? America did NOT fully support slavery. This is also why there should NOT be reparations paid to African Americans today.

Answer 4

No.

It ended 143 years ago.  Get over it and get on with your life.

Answer 5

We've already paid for slavery as a nation, and will continue to do so until the end of the age.  Our nation's prejudism has oppressed blacks, driven them into poverty and created a subculture of hopelessness and victimhood in many of them.  If this isn't a scourge to our country, then what is?  There is nothing that will ever change this, including lawsuits, but ignoring victimhood advocates like Sharpton and Jackson would help a lot.  I believe that dwelling on the history of slavery and prejudism and unfairness of our past is harmful to the black community and is exploitative.  It also undermines the work that the heroes of civil rights have done for our country.  Black people now have a right to be productive and happy members of our society, and it's time for them to stop looking back, accept the opportunities and rights they have, and start taking responsibility for their futures like everyone else.  They are entitled to it, and there is nothing holding them back except themselves.

Answer 6

Blacks were not forced to fight in wars.  We have paid through the nose in reparations via Affirmative action.  Nothing else need be done.   Africa needs to apologize and pay  for capturing and selling us the slaves in the first place.

Answer 7

AGITATOR!. let the tears fall where they may.

Answer 8

America was not a country when slavery was introduced, many of the American people currently here can trace their heritage in this country to after slavery was abolished, should they sue the black people for demanding $$ from the taxes that they have paid? Who did the white ship captains buy the slaves from on the shores of Africa? Did the slaves have to go through the steps to become an American Citizen? How many descendants of the slaves would welcome the chance to go back to their homeland and denounce their US Citizenship and actually enjoy the new life they have chosen?

It appears that there are a lot of people making $$$ off of the emotions of slavery, we all have the opportunity to make something of ourselves here in this country, no matter what your heritage, so stop whining about your ancestors situation and make them proud of all the gains you can make with your life in front of you. Should we sue GOD for making people of different colors, shapes, mental capacity, etc.?

Answer 9

No.  America today should not be held  responsible for the the hatred and racism of the past.  It is the hatred that we have for each other right now that concerns me most, God didn't place us here to hate one another our purpose is to serve Him.  I am a strong believer that God will deal with these things, I believe that He is the only One who can and will deal with man's inhumanity towards man.

If you noticed some of the hateful comments to your question.  Like "Africa needs to apologize to us..." and such, this is exactly what I am speaking of.  The hate needs to stop, before God comes and stops it Himself.

Answer 10

Nobody living today was a slave or is entitled to such a settlement.

Answer 11

Who are you going to sue? they all died long ago.

I understand that out government should formally reconcile slavery and apologize for such things, but anyone alive today had nothing to do with slavery. Time to get over it. I know it was a horrible thing, but you can't change the past.

You said Blacks were forced to fight.......SO WERE THE WHITES. It was called "the draft" during the civil war. It was the first war blacks faught in in the U.S. It eventually led to freedom of slavery in the south. Those that were "forced" to fight, or drafted, got their freedom also, before slavery was officially banished.

You have just as much oppritunity as the next person the get ahead in today's day in age in America. The only person holding you back is yourself. Please get over this issue and move on.  

If you are looking for an appology from the government, write to them, make it publicly known, make people take notice to it. There are plenty of ways to stir up controversy with things like this. You can't always sit there and expect everything to be handed to you. Sometimes you have to get it yourself.

Have a good day.

Answer 12

Yet America has all the freedom, see the positive side.

Answer 13

So are you going to sue EVERY culture in the world ?  At one time or another every civilization has had slavery including all African cultures who sold their enemies into it.  Asia has slavery, Native Americans had slavery, Europeans had slavery so how are you going to sue and how are you goin g to leave alone.

Answer 14

Britain, not only America, should be held responsible for it was the British which took people from Africa as laborers when they colonized the American continent  and in the latter part of imperialism sold them to Americans as slaves!

Answer 15

Lool..how would u sue a country?

as bad as slavery is...there are other countries who STILL have slavery..there are ancient civilizations who practiced slavery

should we sue Italians for what the ancient romans did?

Answer 16

It is people that think like you do that ensure racism will not be going away for a long, long time.

You people just have to keep it going.

Answer 17

Jews have and even say they took their country back after 2000 years, and others have sued for atrocities like this but blacks will never be allowed because some people think they should still be slaves and still have no rights or respect as full human beings.

Answer 18

what happened in the past happened... we should learn from it, not try and build more arguments out of it!  

And for people who didn't know... after America stopped going to Africa and kidnapping blacks there to become slaves, the blacks kidnapped themselves to sell into slavery to other European countries.  Slavery is still going on today in Africa!!

They aren't suing each other!!

Answer 19

No.  The parties in such a lawsuit are all dead.  There are no living former slaves.  There are no living former slave holders.

The constitution has been specifically corrected by amendment to rectify the second class citizenship bestowed on blacks in the original language, and all citizens regardless of race are equal in under the law.

Now that is not to say that things are equal in reality, but the law is on the side of equality.  So instead of suing for damages to your ancestors, sue for proper application of equal rights (as as been done many times, resulting in court decisions to compel governments and businesses to act lawfully and not deny rights and privileges on the account of race)

Answer 20

tell you what. If you gave every black person in America the option of a cash settlement for slavery ONLY if it included a one way ticket back to Africa, less than 1% of African Americans would take it. The quality of life is no comparison. The truth is, if you are black, then forgive and forget the past, those people that made those errors in judgment are long dead. the human race has made many mistakes. You are here right now, make the best of it. In all things you must see the good that resulted from the bad, or you will be doomed to a miserable, ungrateful life.

Answer 21

I didn't have anything to do with it, and neither did my family who fought on the side of the Union, or who came to the US after the civil war.

The reason Germany was reprimanded after WW2 is because they started the war that ended in their collapse and millions of lives lost, and because the majority of the country participated in and supported the National Socialist government.

Answer 22

Yes, sue them for all that has been taken with interest! Cash, grass and no *** please unless it is the one sourced for me, no one rides for free. Why not take back all that was taken? No one thought that the enslaved would awaken unto the reality of the truth. Now it's time to pay the piper who blew the tunes.

Slavery was presented as a physical force and torture to distort even further, yet truth be told it was indeed of a mental form of slavery that distorted the path of intellectual. Slavery in any form is forbidden and to self-exalt and rise up against the innoncent is an act that is punishable by death unto all that took part in it.

Encapture of the mind that controlled in peace and happiness unto all has caused wars and dismal deaths. It has caused ones to be homeless and denied basic needs of survival that brought a nastiness into the realm. Greedy minded ones that make the rich richer and the poor poorer.

Get over yourselves that the pursuit of happiness and prosperity not be limited to a handful for there is enough to go around . Free the mind- free the slave. You sat on your cushioned seats and attempt to call the shots when indeed you're unable to control yourselves. Decision making has been reduced to waiting for one in true power to iniate and speak out for you knowing that you have no power to do so and the thing be done.

I want all that was taken from me and if there are some of you whose home would be raided and your home violated you'd want back all that was taken from you. In saying that, get your ego out of the way and get your own don't think for one moment that things will get back to right until all that was taken is given back.

This is my opinion and is rightfully so. Begin the process NOW! Should the past as you say is past then you won't mind giving back what was not yours for the taking for that truly is the past and I want mine and won't stop until it is back in my hands.

Reparations are in order to the many who were violated by these studyers or philosophers of untruth who only controlled you into this mess that you're in now. The tainted paint has worn off the Building as it still stands and command the real and truth. There are chioces now that were not given in the past as you so refer to. It now is your turn to choose.

Strong arm is not the choice that should be considered. All that appear as black is not black and all that appear white is not white. Let us now take it back to the basic of truth and walk that fine line that leads unto the everlasting life. It is no longer the more the merrier, in fact less is much better. A unity of ONE.

I won't waste my time seeking for political propaganda or terminology. No republicans nor democrat can change that fact. I'm back and should you remain the doubting thomas then you await and may think you desire more drama... This time it's your KARMA!

Answer 23

I don't believe America should be sued or held responsible for its role in slavery.  First of all, while the United States of America did exist at the time slavery was finally abolished, it did not exist as a separate, self-governed entity when slavery first began on this continent.  The colonies belonged to and were governed by Great Britain.  Second, there were also white slaves, and there were black slave owners.  How shall that be worked into the picture of the suing the United States?  Alot of people in this country now did not have any ancestors in this country at the time of slavery, and even those who did have ancestors here then, probably did not have ancestors who held slaves.  It's a myth that white people all owned slaves.  Many whites were too poor or simply lived in an area where slave labor was not used.  The United States does attempt to make amends regarding slavery in many ways.  Just by becoming a society that in general is more aware of an cares more about injustices in other countries and tries to do something about it, is a sign that the consciousness has changed for the good.  It's as if saying that I cannot be an advocate against drunk driving because 20 years ago I drove drunk and took someone's life.  One's own experiences and behavior can and ought to be thoroughly examined and used to change for the better.  There are former gang members, having served time for murder, who now work diligently toward keeping kids out of gangs.  Sometimes it is when we see other's atrocities that our own really come to light.  I often see my own poor behavior more clearly (and uncomfortably) when my I see other people exhibiting the same bad habits; that pushes me to imrove myself.

We must also remember that slavery has existed in some form or another all over the world from the beginning of human history.  This doesn't make it right or moral; I'm not justifying it.  It's existance is just that.  If we as humans generally do not agree with this practice at this time in history, then we should do what we can wherever we see humans being treated unjustly and inhumanely.  

The Declaration of Independence, and the Constitution in particular are the very documents often cited to promote more human rights for non-whites and have been the inspiration for the continued drive to change the country to one more equitable for all.  A better question than the one you pose is whether or not Native Americans can sue the government for going back on promises and treaties, most of which were legally documented and signed by our leaders.  Remember, we do not have a Native American History month, we do not have a Sitting Bull or Sacagawea holiday to get out of school or work, and we do not put much thought into the sufferings of Native Americans who didn't suffer from slavery so much as attempts at genocide.

Hypocrisy might exist here in many forms, but I would rather the United States speak out and  do what it does even if it seems hypocritical.  I would not want my country to condone or ignore atrocities in other countries by other forces just so that the our policies seem in line with what they once were.  That makes no sense.  Anyone who has ever changed their ways for the better and healthier is often highly critical of others going down that same path.  One can often see much more clearly what one has left behind.  The forces behind the suffering of blacks in this country have not been our national documents, but ignorance, greed, selfishness, and other human sins.  It is not fixable over night but everyone, of every color who decides to live here is responsible for all the social issues we continue to face.

Answer 24

Why is America the one you always hear about when slavery is brought up?

The time between 1776 (the beginning of the U.S.), and 1865 (the end of slavery in the U.S.) is only 89 years.  How many other countries had slavery for hundreds or thousands of years?

If George Bush's ancestors were found to have owned slaves, and the Bush family is related to Barack Hussein Obama, does that mean that Obama is also responsible for slavery?

Just who do you think sold the African slaves to the Europeans to begin with?  It was other African tribes!  Without African tribal wars, there would have been a lot less slaves for sale in the slave trade.  

(And slavery is still being practiced in Africa and other parts of the world.)

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Answer 25

As you contemplate your lawsuit against America, bear in mind that this country has accepted more responsibility for slavery and has done more to mitigate the damages it caused than any other country in the world.  But go ahead and prepare your case.  Just understand that all proceedings will be governed by a gag order that will prohibit all whining while the case is pending.  

Be prepared to explain why you are focusing on the United States and are not naming other countries, including those in the Western hemisphere’s slave capital – the Caribbean.  

I’m sure you understand the need to explain who was responsible for slavery, both here and abroad.  Given that your claim for damages will be governed by the concept of contributory negligence, you’ll need to explain the degree of responsibility you want to assign to Great Britain, which was the dominate player in the Atlantic slave trade for centuries; the Arab slave traders who helped get the industry into high gear; the African tribal chieftains who captured and sold their own “people” to the slave traders; and many others.  You will need to explain all this and more.  You will also need to explain how white American slave owners and their descendants can be sued for damages when their involvement in slavery was legal until slavery ended in 1865.  After all, it will be difficult to make a case against those people unless you can show the nature and extend of their involvement in slavery and how they benefitted illegally from it.  And you will also need to show what your damages are.

You need to understand that, insofar as America is concerned, there is a line.  And Native Americans are at the head of that line.  

You can use Google to generate a list of the current leaders of the African nations that supplied the slave traders with some of their slaves.  After all, if you’re going to try to make a case that you have been damaged because my ancestors bought slaves, even if they did so legally, you also need to quantify the damages you suffered because your ancestors sold slaves.  

BTW, by the time your case can be heard in court you will probably be long dead and your follow-up associates will need all your notes.  So be sure to save them.

Answer 26

yes the government should be sued...not for money... I think the atrocities blacks suffered as a result of slavery should be added to the US Constitution and a written apology should be addressed in the constitution as well