AIBU to think I should get reparations?

[PositiveEngine]

I’m from a working class background. My ancestors, going back 200 years, were also working class people and before that, agricultural labourers. They weren’t slaves, but they were engaged in backbreaking manual work, for very little pay, housed in what were effectively slums, to make capitalists rich. They had no practical way out of that life and the impacts are still felt; I’ve done alright for myself, but the biggest determinant of where someone ends up in life remains where they started.

AIBU to think some reparations would level the playing field a bit?

No. You could of worked harder for yourself and changed things, it’s nobody elses responsibility.

Defo think you should pursue this.

How do you know so much detail about the work your ancestors were doing over 200 years ago?

Who are you suggesting pays said reparations?

Yes, pop along and ask for some money. Good luck.

Going back 200 years that vast majority of our ancestors were engaged in manual labour of some sort or another.

Yep absolutely go for it hun

Reparations from who? Just for you or all people from a working class background? I don't come from a working class background but my mum does so how would that work?

Yup go for it. The government should pay out of the taxes of those who are currently just making ends meet. 😉

Researching my family tree. Unless you think linen weavers and coal miners had it easy.

Go for it. Start with the House of Lords and the Royals. Lets us know if you get anywhere. My family were also serfs back in the day so I’d be keen to get in on the action. And Britain colonised my country too.

If you set up a go fund me I would love to donate.

The tax payer of course.

Not sure really, maybe the descendants of those who profited from their labour? Just putting it out there for debate.

As you clearly say, they were not slaves.

To compare them to the slave trade by demanding reparations is a bit off.

Not at all, pretty much the entire population had it shit for most of human history. Once those reparations are spread around literally everyone, it won't be worth the hassle.

I didn’t compare them to slaves. Slavery was (very obviously) much, much worse, and there is a valid debate around reparations for that too.

Working class people weren’t owned but they had very little agency and others were made rich from their backbreaking labour in dangerous working conditions. They couldn’t leave those jobs and had no real way out of that life.

My family were coal miners. My grandad on one side died of emphysema but both were coal miners. They lived in little rows of minors cottages with no kitchens and loos at the bottom of the garden. My husbands family were Irish potato farmers. Go back 3 or 4 generations and almost everyone was a peasant of some description!! Unless you come from generational wealth at some point you ancestors did back breaking manual labour to enrich capitalists!

Most people in most parts of the UK will be able to both look up their ancestry and to understand what their careers meant.

If we are going to talk of compensating (for example) a successful lawyer whose great great great grandfather was in indentured labour then it makes sense to do the same for everyone whose ancestors were repressed.

A lot of your male ancestors were exploitative gentry, who took advantage of servant girls.

It is you who owes reparations, because of your male forbears.

Lol no. My cousins and I were the first university educated in our family, ever. We’ve worked hard and strived and most of us are seeing the benefits of our hard work. We all come from poor farming stock.

So, by your reckoning, anyone who hasn't 'had it easy' is owed money?

Where does the wider concept of reparations begin and end (excuse me while I clutch my fake pearls).

Do we look at reparations for countries - not just race - that were colonised as well. Who actually gets the reparations and how much. Who agrees the sums involved. Not to mention why should today's generations pay for their forebears, not least when some of today's generations are stoney broke.

FFS 🤦 s this a joke? How about just working hard and trying to better yourself????

No, I’m suggesting that there is a debate to be had about whether something should be done to support people who still have disadvantages in life because their ancestors were exploited to make other people rich (and whose descendants enjoy advantages they wouldn’t otherwise enjoy as a result).