Royal commentator says that African descendants of past kings should pay reparations for slavery

[cocococococococo]

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www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/donald-trump-jr-fordwich-slave-trade-reparations-b2171510.html

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11231183/Don-Lemon-stunned-silence-royal-commentator-says-African-kings-pay-reparations.html

DM link because I think the Independent site might need a membership to view news (although not sure)

Reparations shouldn't be paid regardless of who is to 'blame'

It won't fix anything.

We all know who the victims of slavery were. Anything shared by Don Jr is going to be garbage.

It’s a ridiculous idea, but a fair response to the suggestion of anyone paying reparations.

It is not a fair response, it's an offensive response.

The idea if paying reparations is gaining traction in the C of E. But the C of E prefer paying attention to the past rather than present-day slavery. And I say that as a member.
But IMO it's nuts.

It makes as much sense as asking anyone else to pay reparations, or just apologise. No one can apologise for what someone else did. You can be sorry it happened, but that's not the same thing.

The Arabs were also a key part of slave trading, while we're at it.

Where does it stop? The USA was colonised. South America was colonised by the Spanish. Caribbean islands colonised by both French and British. Brazil by Portugal. There seems to be a narrative that British were the only ones. Yes it was wrong but if we are expected to pay reparation shouldn't everyone?

The level of exploitation and appropriation under the slave trade is so mind-blowing.

The level of modern day slavery is mind blowing.

There isn't a narrative it is only the British, it is just the British press cover that more and want to drum up the sense of injustice.

Oh yes absolutely. We can all see that with our own eyes if we choose to look.

I disagree with reparations, as others have said, where would it end.

I think there should be massive reparations.

.... because they will end up straight back in the UK via some kleptomaniac's trust fund managed from Canary Wharf.

As a fellow member I agree. The C of E needs to realise it makes itself look stupid by trying to get it right 300 years after the event.

I disagree with reparations but I think financial aid (without strings) to strengthen things like health systems or infrastructure for groups badly affected by slavery would be good.

No as a white man from the west of England I'm all in favour....as an ancestor was barbadosed following the Monmouth rebellion.
Slavery has nothing to do with race, creed or colour. It's wrong then and now.
BUT why should people today pay for something done 200 plus years ago?

Exactly

It is a fair response to the claim that the descendents of those who profited should pay.

It will also cause offence, but it's no less true for that.

It's a classic illustration of why there is no right not to be offended.

The sub Saharan slave trade was massive too as big as the trans Atlantic one and it went on for longer. That was selling slaves to Middle Eastern countries.
I think it’s a fair point to make in an open debate. I want to hear all the arguments before I decide what I think.
I hadn’t considered the navy seamen that died trying to stop Africa sending more slaves ( who was the Navy trying to stop?)
That is a valid point imo.
And yes the slave trade continues in large parts of the world as we speak.

How would it work? In practice?

We need to concentrate on slavery that is happening today.
In the UK we have people held as domestic slaves and sex slaves. I can't understand why by people insist on harping on about past slavery when right now it's happening, we can see it but yet no body cares. It's mind blowing.

The problem is when people talk about ‘slavery’ and reparations, they are usually talking about a period of time, which considering the timeline of slavery is very small.

When considering reparations, you can’t just look at one part of the story. You need to look at it all. Very few, if any, countries have their hands clean when it comes to the history of all slavery.

It could be argued that the independent America agenda to make black people sub human, so they could still say all men were created equal and keep black people enslaved as they were sub human, has had more of an impact on people alive today. Should that not be tackled first.

and what reparations are better than working to abolish slavery. Which countries were involved in trying to ban slavery across the world. Which countries pushed that forward. As a mixed race person I would prefer people who have done something awful, to work towards stopping the awful thing happening in future, rather than slipping some cash over.

And instead of reparations, wouldn’t money be better spent on stamping out slavery today and freeing people who are right this minute, enslaved?

This is why reparations, in my opinion, is a distraction debate. The whole history of Slavery is long and complicated, but only a small amount of it is taught or deemed socially acceptable to talk about. Which isn’t going to move anything forward.

That is exactly what happened. Tribal leaders kidnapped people from other tribes to sell as slaves.

The British intervened to save slaves when slavery was abolished here.

But noone should pay anything. I mean who's with me to start a campaign to get Rome, Anglo, Saxons, Viking nations etc to pay us for what thry did to the indigenous Brits? And don't think none of those Brits weren't in servitude/enslaved. They were. Viking nations used to kidnap British females to be the wives of men back home.

When I worked in Zambia, I was shown all the slavery places by the engineer I was working with. The tree where slaves were tied in readiness for slavers buying them etc. I asked how they felt about slavery and was told - there are 7 tribes in Zambia. We used to all fight amongst ourselves. We could not marry across tribes etc. We all had our own language. We now all speak English. We are one nation and can marry anyone. Ergo that person, at least, was happier with the way the country was. He married a woman from a different tribe.

Frankly I'm done with all talk of paying for slavery. History is history, none of us were around to feel responsible. Sure it's very uncomfortable to know that's what our ancestors did, but equally the British ended slavery and enforced it, so grateful William Wilberforce for taking action in 1787 which resulted in anti slavery legislation in 1807.

Slavery is still ongoing today, right under our noses - sex workers, car washes, nail salons, local construction companies using asylum seekers, people with learning disabilities being used by their so-called friends etc. Some humans will use other humans to bring them 'riches'. It's those humans we need to seek out and deal with.

A historian told me Britain should apologise for plundering nations in the Commonwealth. I'm not sure an apology is what they really want - we should return treasures we have taken (not those the Royals or Britain were gifted) like the Elgin stones. And America should give us our Eagle back.

History is fascinating and can be dark, but it's history. No need for hysterics.