Demanding reparations? Get in line!

 

In 1608 the first British women were brought to what is now the USA.

In 1619 the first Irish indentured servants were brought over.

In 1619 the first African slaves were brought  to Jamestown.

In 1636 the Caucasian colonists enslaved Native Americans.

 

In 1865 slavery in the USA was abolished. The 13th Amendment was passed by congress on January 31, 1865, it was ratified on December 6, 1865. Not all states in the USA accepted or adopted enslavement or indentured servitude. It took several years to replace slaves with paid laborers. It happened in a gradual process.

In 1865, Chinese people began to be brought to the USA to fill the demands for laborers after Abolition of Slavery. They were paid low wages, treated badly. In a clandestine practice, they were even bought and sold in a fashion similar to prior slave markets.

Women & children were still considered property by husbands & fathers as early as 1960. 

Re: Coverture Laws.

African American people legally gained their freedom by law nearly a century before Caucasian or White women along with their children.

Something that many people don't realize is that Irish, Scottish, Asian people were indentured servants for many years after the abolishment of slavery. Many indentured servants had a weaker constitution, many died before their indentured time expired. 

They lived in worse dwellings, were only given a minimum of food to keep them alive. 

Many slave owners "bred" their indentured servants, usually an Asian, Sottish or Irish woman with an African American man to try to produce stronger slaves with lighter skin color. 

The indentured servants would serve until the time for them to serve had ended. Their children remained as the property of the slave master.

Many of the smaller women died during childbirth due to the larger size of the infant. Also due to a lack of medical expertise, unsanitary conditions.

Indentured servants were seen as having less value than African slaves. When indenturement was expired, the servant could walk away as a free person. The African slaves were seen as more valuable since they were property, very scant chance to be freed.

Native American people were taken from their villages or tribal encampment, by Caucasians, to be used as laborers. Most often, the Native American was a baby or a small child as they were more easily taken. It was easier to raise them, speaking English with little to no knowledge of their origin. Many of these abductions sparked uprisings of the Native American people against those that had stolen their children.

Keep in mind that the Caucasian people who were committing these acts of barbarism, were European, British, some were Africans. Most people of today would not do such things. Partly because of the insight gained as to the detrimental effects on people. Also partly because it is strictly prohibited by law.......in the USA.

Slavery practices still exist in some parts of the world. Although the circumstances differ from the practices of a century ago, some cultures in the middle east still practice a form of slavery. People in poorer countries are brought to the middle east under false pretenses. Their passport, any money they have, any possessions they have, is taken. 

They work long hours for little money. Often, they are given just a floor to sleep on, are often expected to provide sexual services to the male head of the household. Often, along with other males as requested by the man who he or she is employed by.

When I see or hear of people spouting how unfair life is that they descended from African slaves. When I see or hear the cry out to be paid reparations? What goes through my mind is this:

Life is unfair, yet, it's our struggles that make us strong.

The white people alive today, are not responsible for your trouble.

Each individual who gives up responsibility for their failures, will never learn how to succeed in life.

Many people of all races have done quite well, you can, too!

If a person listens to words/ideals of hate toward individuals based on race, ethnicity, culture, the person deprives themselves of a richer life experience.

Throughout the history of the world, there have been many horrible atrocities of racially motivated wrong doing. It would be impossible to pay financial reparations to the descendants of  indentured servants, slaves, those who were killed in German work camps. The millions of women & children who were abused, tormented, murdered during a time they were considered property.

If you want to be paid? 

Become the master/mistress of your own fate, your own destiny. 

Pay yourself!