A Statute Of Limitations For The Past:Reparations For Slavery
Submitted by freefortermpapers on 06/24/2008 03:00 PM
- Category: Science
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A Statute Of Limitations For The Past:Reparations For Slavery
The Creature that came to life in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein novel was mistreated, shunned, persecuted, and enslaved throughout the story. Even though he was human, he was involuntarily dragged into a hostile environment over which he had no control. (Shelley) Similarly, many nineteenth-century African-Americans were placed in a situation where they were forced to meet the demands of other human beings, without respect for their feelings and humanity. Both the Creature in Frankenstein and the 19th century slaves of the United States of America should have been granted compensation and recognition during their lives for their horrendous oppression. Unfortunately, neither the Creature nor the African slaves were awarded appropriate restitution sufficient for the maintenance of the equalization of their humanity in society. The question here is, do descendants of these people deserve to be compensated over one hundred years later for the oppression of their ancestors?
African-Americans are today trying to receive reparations because of their ancestors' time in slavery. Reparations should not be paid, because Americans have paid enough to the African-Americans by fighting for their freedom. Reparations for African-Americans, whose ancestors were slaves prior to the Civil War, should not be paid because they are unconstitutional, unreasonable, and would cause more problems than they would solve.
From colonial days through the first century of United States history, Africans were stolen from their homelands and families, brought to America, and forced into slavery until the day of their death. Over time, slaves adapted to this lifestyle in the United States, and during the Civil War, the Union forces fought with their lives to outlaw slavery in the country. After the abolishment of slavery, African-Americans were awarded freedom, fair rights, and were paid "forty acres and mule". (Ellen 10)
Reparations are made when massive...
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