Proponent of slavery reparations makes his case in Twin Cities

Mpls (red)Star Tribune ^ | 5/10/02 | Terry Collins

[Valin]

No amount of money can compensate for slavery, said Randall Robinson, one of the nation's leading black advocates of slave reparations.

But not acknowledging the full impact of its existence in America, he said, is only a snippet of the problem.

[Enterprise]

"The crime was so massive that somehow we've been conditioned to not understand what happened to our ancestors,"

One only needs to look at modern day Africa in places like Zimbabwe and Rwanda to understand what life was like for his ancestors. In fact, it is the way life is STILL like for the descendants of those ancestors.

[Valin]

"Thank god my ancestors got on the boat."
Ali
A response to a question, How did you like africa?

[kickme]

"Jews have been able to survive because they can trace their history 4,000 years and can go from Abraham to Moses," he said. "We were denied our history. I need to know my history."

Wrong. The Jews can trace their history and were a Nation without a nation for thousands of years because they are the chosen people of God.

The beauty of America is that - for the most part - you have the liberty to live the life you make for yourself. People that are stay busy and contribute in a positive way instead of whining and complaining useually have something to show for it.

[dpa5923]

No amount of money can compensate for slavery, said Randall Robinson, one of the nation's leading black advocates of slave reparations.

That one line only makes it crystal clear that the white man will never pay for his sin (being born white) in the eyes of the black racist.

Reparations now, reparations tomorrow, reparations forever is the new battle cry.

[robertpaulsen]

"No amount of money can compensate for slavery, said Randall Robinson..."

I guess not. He estimates $30B for 35 million black Americans descended from slaves. That's roughly $860. per black American. Selling out pretty cheap, I think.

[Utopia]

"Jews have been able to survive because they can trace their history 4,000 years and can go from Abraham to Moses," he said. "We were denied our history."
Actually its the year 5762 in the Jewish calendar.

I need to know my history.
Okey dokey ... if you really want to know your history, I guess you'll have to go back to where it originated -- Africa

[yendu bwam]

I'm a white guy. I was a Peace Corps volunteer in Africa - which were two of the greatest years of my life. I have always treated any black person with the respect I try to show anyone. We don't even talk about skin color with our kids, and I don't think they ever even think about it. (Though of course they will be forced to once they're exposed to society more.) Horrible and awful acts were committed by the government of the US in the past - Indian massacres, slavery, overseas military massacres, etc. But I'm not responsible for those things! Neither are all the Americans (probably well over 1/2) who are descended from immigrants who came to this country after the end of slavery. Let's work on trying to be fair and just to each of the people around us, no matter what their color happens to be.

[Tancred]

"Slavery stripped our ancestors and us of our language, religion and mores."

Part of the problem is that many black people are really African-Anti-Americans. They would rather pursue some mythic Afrocentric identity than accept themselves as American citizens living in a world made better by Western civilization. Nothing the U.S. can do will ever be good enough for them; they will have a permanent chip on their shoulder until they realize that the opportunity for having a good, free life is better here than anywhere else no matter what your race is. You can't name a better country than the USA.

[an amused spectator]

Robinson, author of the 1999 book "The Debt: What America Owes to Blacks," has estimated that a rough figure would be more than $30 billion.

After the government starts handing out tax dollars for reparations, I estimate that my tax bill would be exactly zero.

The government would have to take money from me at the point of a gun. Big ones, and lots of them.

[Valin]

Reply #3.
There was a book written a couple of years ago by a reporter(black) who get assigned to Zaire(I believe). He was very excited about the chance to "find is roots", needless to say reality jumped up and bit him in the butt.

[Houmatt]

Well, here is another BLACK racist moron who wants no part of bringing race relations forward in the United States.

It is because of people like this jerk we will never see true racial harmony.

Thanks, Randall, and by the way, your village called. Their idiot is missing.

[mhking]

Black conservative ping

If you want on (or off) of my black conservative ping list, please let me know.

[Valin]

It make one wonder if Randall Robinson is secretly allied with the kkk? If not he's doing yeomans work for them.

[mhking]

He said that although he considers himself a successful black person, he's frustrated that there aren't more like him. "There are some who went up and forgot about those who could not." While he argues against direct payment of reparations to anyone... "We were denied our history. I need to know my history."

You notice that he makes sure to include the notion of NOT making direct payments to anyone. He is no better than Jesse Jackson in that regard: He wants his, but everyone else be damned.

At the same time, he refuses to acknowledge that there are successful blacks from all walks of life who made it on their own efforts and merits. He also wants to insist that all blacks who do "make it" have a responsibility to take everyone with them. Those that don't - according to his standards - are wrong.

And at that point, the namecalling and catcalls begin. "Sellout." "Oreo." "Uncle Tom." "You think you are better than everyone else." "You forgot where you came from." I think I've heard them all. Robinson exists solely because he can use the emotionalism of this issue to divide black America. It isn't in his best interest for someone like me to not only succeed in America, but to thrive in America. For a Michael King to thrive and show other blacks by example that they too can thrive erodes Robinson's base of support.

Robinson exists because he can use the pain of the past to keep other blacks under his thumb. I refuse to be pinned down by the Randall Robinsons of the world. The American dream is mine, and all I have to do is seize it. All anyone who wants that dream has to do is sieze it.

[boris]

"Robinson, author of the 1999 book "The Debt: What America Owes to Blacks," has estimated that a rough figure would be more than $30 billion."

Well I figure that for $30 billion, we could buy first-class one-way airline tickets for all of them to fly to Africa.

Calculation: U.S. population about 240 million. Blacks about 17% of population, or 41 million. First-class one-way tickets at $730 each.

A great bargain.

--Boris

[Valin]

You notice that he makes sure to include the notion of NOT making direct payments to anyone.
Ah, but as to INdirect payments....?

[mhking]

Sorry - you can cancel tickets for me and my family. We won't be going anywhere.

I've never been to Africa - I have no desire to live in Africa - I wasn't born in Africa.

I was born and raised in Indiana, as was my wife. My parents were born in the US, as were my in-laws. I'm an American, period.

In addition, I have no desire to reap anybody's "lottery windfall" in the form of reparations. The notion is madness, and the idiots that are continuing to perpetrate this will be responsible for an even greater downfall of black America as time goes on.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Claptrap. My parent's history will take care of itself. Meanwhile, I'm trying to earn a living.