Second of all, from my view, those slaves by default became American citizens the moment their feet hit the land never to return to where they came from. This is the modern view since all of those slaves are viewed officially today as having been American citizens from the time of arrival despite not being given such status back then. Thus we are speaking of a group of American citizens who were not given the rights and freedoms afforded to other American citizens. How their lives compared to blacks in Africa or how the lives of their descendants compare to the lives of blacks living in Africa currently is a moot point because they and their descendants were and are American citizens and thus should judge and be judged by AMERICAN STANDARDS, not African standards.
So consider how today’s black Americans would be if those first black Americans were given complete rights to life liberty and the pursuit of happiness other Americans had the moment they set foot on the land and this lasted until today. One can speculate that you have a far more fully assimilated and patriotic group.
Let me ask you this. If a black person complained intensely about American liberalism and liberal politicians, the liberal media, the current President, etc., would a liberal be justified in telling that black person that this socialized liberalized America is far better than Africa? Why must black people in America constantly have to judge their lives based on African standards as opposed to American standards?
You see, folks who harp over slavery don’t so much do so because of a group being taken from their lands (though I’m sure that all slaves would have preferred to live in freedom in Africa), but rather the fact that when they came to this land, they were relegated to being slaves as opposed to individuals with the freedom to pursue the American dream.
They, by calling themselves African first and then American, in my opinion create the Africa/America contrast. The Irish were not treated well nor were the Chinese. Jewish person were not permitted in hotels in Miami as late as the late 1950’s/early 1960’s. What they would or would not have done if their ancestors came here as free persons is not going to change. They need to accept that and accept that they are American today. In light of the fact that so many of our military honorably serving are black, I do not question the overall patriotism of blacks. I am tried of whining about the past as much as listening to criminals complain because of their childhood. Many in the same situations both racially and with lousy childhoods are great Americans...so it is a personal choice. And my perspective is still if they aren’t happy here move on. I don’t have either the wealth or poverty of my ancestors. I earn my own wealth or debt and so can blacks.