To think descendants of slave owners should visit former plantations?

[rowernoke]

Particularly if their family still has wealth earned through the atrocities of the slave trade and slavery?

For example, Laura Trevalyan visited former plantations in Grenada and met with local people to understand the role her ancestors played in the slave trade. She was so moved by this that she is now sponsoring education initiatives for those affected.

I’m a descendant of a slave and their owner. Where does that leave me 🤷‍♀️

I believe in personal responsibility and being a good person. Nobody should have guilt by association blood or otherwise unless they are doing the same thing. It prolongs suffering and resentment. Do better yourself and teach future generations to do better. Look forward not back. I’m black by the way I’m not saying this from some kind of privileged white viewpoint.

The OP did not say they should feel guilty, or responsible, or should flog themselves, or apologise. The OP said "understand". And I agree. Understanding ones ancestry is important, particularly if it has a significant impact upon your lifestyle.

Yes indeed common to many in the UK.

I'm Welsh, can all the English please come and apologise for their role in invading Wales? While we're at it, we'll send the Spanish to Mexico, the Portuguese to Brazil all with their apologies to the indigenous population 🙄.
The slave trade was appalling, and we should never forget it. But throughout history people have behaved appallingly and this generation have nothing to do with it.
I'd like to see today's racism being tackled.

No, I don't think it helps. We are not responsible for our past or our ancestors. What I do think matters is now. If people are in difficulty then surely what matters is making opportunities for a better life for people alive now. Good housing, educational opportunities, whatever is needed.

I'd rather we do something about modern slavery first.

Presumably this only applies to the descendants of white slave owners, right?

Might need a word with the French about 1066 come to think of it.

This, there are more people living in slavery today than at any time ever in the past. If you are in a city in the UK you are within 10 miles of trafficked child slaves growing cannabis, for a start.

Yes.
I posted about black slave traders earlier and was told that it wasn't an issue.
So, just white slave owners.

Of course not.
Yes, we should be aware of history and how it can/has potentially impact(ed) people's lives but we are not responsible for it. We are not responsible for the mistakes of the past - our responsibility is to try to prevent similar mistakes happening.

OK then

I'm not responsible for my ancestors. I do not want forgiveness for something I didn't do. I'm sure if we all dug hard enough, we would find a relative who used and hurt people. It could be a murderer/enslaver/viking soldier etc. I'm not responsible for their sins, nor do I hold others accountable for their ancestors.

We can all learn from the past but no one should be held responsible for other people’s actions.

This again. Bore off OP and do something useful. Plenty of current atrocities for you to do something about. Or is it only self-loathing that matters?

Might need a word with the French about 1066 come to think of it

The Normans weren't French, they were the descendants of Vikings who invaded what is now Normandy. There's a clue in their name Normans = North men.

Tracing my family back, there is an unusual surname. There was a notorious proponent of slavery with the same name (and from a similar geographic area) so it’s quite possible we are distantly related. What do you expect me to do? I am a moderately well-off pensioner. Serious question.

But if they are still financially benefitting from it (in a big way judging by the huge stately homes they own) surely there’s no reason not to contribute something

I disagree. If you were phenomenally wealthy due to your parent's war crimes don't you feel you are indebted to those who suffered in order for you to now be wealthy?

So should Auschwitz soldiers' descendants be made to visit there?

But why only them? So many other ancestors will have been troublesome when looked through today’s lense

Pay yourself £50?

I don't know. You'd have to ask OP. My own response is a generalisation. I just think people need to stop projecting and ranting on about guilt when the message was "understanding" your families past.

The problem with paying back what you gained is that noone ever has proper answers to the practicalities of it. Its always so vague and nebulous.

How do you separate out exactly what money came from nefarious means and what did not
What if that money is tied up in their business or house- should they sell it and make themselves homeless or without an income to repay it
Pay back to whom?- anyone whose ancestors was a victim of slavery or the specific victims of that case and how do you track that- what if there arent any written records left?
Are there tax implications of monetary pay back?
What if the ancestor or their relatives left all their money to an organisation or charity- should they pay it back?
What if the ancestor had no surviving biological kids and left their money to a friend of the family who is unrelated to them and didnt have slave owner ancestors, do they have to also pay it back?
What if an elderly person gives away an appropriate sum and then requires a care home- is that deprivation of assets?
What if the relatives put that money into a business that then went bankrupt during covid and there is none left - should they go into debt to pay it off?
Who decides on the amount? if you are talking about putting it truly "right" then generations of missed money could run into millions over that time, not just a few thousand pounds or dollars, that isnt going to cut it.
Should it be means tested based on how much the relative can afford?- how is that fair if some people get lots of money back and others get lesser amounts
What if they've squandered it all away on a hedonistic lifestyle of alcohol and drugs?- how will you make them pay it back?
What if the relatives are using the money for care and are disabled and cannot work?
What if all the relatives are dead and any remaining money has gone back to the state as there was no will- should the state pay it out?

There are so many complexities to this that simply saying "just pay it back" is really quite naive.