[roscoguy]

Originally Posted by Ashley from UK

In the UK we see people bemoaning slavery, but a question, how many actually know anything about the roots of slavery? Yes it was terrible that the Europeans took people from Africa, but they were bought from their own people. Slavery was not a white invention. Slaves were created to pay debts or family used as security for a debt. The Europeans merely bought these debts and security, and slaves were given the opportunity to buy their freedom. OK I accept I am also on some dodgy ground here because the whole system was seriously abused, Europeans were guilty of creating the breading ground that resulted in Africans enslaving their own people and selling them to the Europeans so I don't for one second say whites hands are clean. But let us also consider the descendants. No matter how bad some may say they feel or are treated today, are they any worse in USA or UK than if they had stayed in Africa with the troubles the continent suffers, droughts, infighting. etc. etc.

My personal experience is that anyone who has to refer to colour is using it as an excuse for lack of ability or willingness to try and better themselves. So few of us are born with a silver spoon but hard work and sacrifice and a dash of luck and we succeed in whatever we do, whether music, sport, school, work, military, nursing. You name it hard work is the only thing that matters, the only thing that will open or close doors... not the colour of your skin.

You're not really using this factoid as an excuse for slavery, are you??? This is a blatant attempt to lessen European & American guilt and blame for purchasing human beings for use as slaves. And as far as who 'invented' it, according to many sources, it was originally the Portuguese that landed in Africa, at least some of whom had the express intent of capturing & kidnapping people to be used as forced labor. To imply otherwise is akin to saying that there would be no market for illegal drugs if there were no sellers. It is the demand that created the market - in BOTH cases.

Even though SOME slaves were allowed to buy their freedom, saying that Europeans "merely bought ... debts and security" is ridiculously implying that it was actually a humane thing to do and that the "system" was somehow meant to be beneficial to all. Absolute nonsense! These people were bought and treated as property, with no human rights whatsoever.

That you further opine that the modern descendants of the slaves are better off than if their ancestors hadn't been enslaved is specious at best. This logic completely ignores the forced labor, beatings, maiming, rape & murder that many of the slaves endured for hundreds of years before their descendants could live in the conditions of today. Please take a closer look at the history of blacks in this country after the end of the Civil War to see the ingrained, systemic & violent racism that existed in this country, some of which continues today.

Your "personal experience" appears to be that of a white European without an actual clue as to what opportunities are available to those who grew up dealing with discrimination in education, health care and employment. Hard work doesn't tell the whole story.