Latent White Guilt Over Slavery

[Back]

Does being a white American and wanting racial equality for all mean you have latent white guilt over slavery? Or are there certain things white people do that make them seem as if they have that guilt?

I’m genuinely interested in hearing from all races and non-American’s perspectives on this subject.

[Fallen]

I don't feel guilty about anything. I didn't enslave anyone, and my ancestors were all immigrants. Nor are any of my feelings on racial equality at all influenced by guilt.

[Drew]

I'm partly black and partly Indian, so if anything the bonds of slavery and the horrors of conquest are embedded in my genetic code.

[Davenshire]

I don't feel guilty about anything. I didn't enslave anyone, and my ancestors were all immigrants. Nor are any of my feelings on racial equality at all influenced by guilt.



x2

[Back]

What if a white person did feel guilt over slavery? Would it be a bad thing to want to right the injustices of their ancestors?

[Drew]

I don't think anyone should be compelled to feel guilty over the acts of their ancestors. Slavery viewed as an immoral act compromises a sliver of human history. I don't think there's anything wrong with you, as an individual, taking whatever steps you feel are appropriate to assuage your guilt; however that is an act for you and not to absolve your ancestors.

A contemporaneous example to the end of US slavery is soldiers in the Civil War. Several of my ancestors served in the Confederate Army and I feel nothing but pride when I think of them. My direct ancestor was captured at the age of 16 just two months after enlisting and spent three years in a Union POW camp. I don't judge them for being on the wrong side because they were common men, in the same way I don't judge the Nazi foot soldier. The moral choices are left to a few commanders and officers and the blame falls on them but the praise is for all troops who do their duty with honor.

Future generations may judge our years for allowing abortion to transpire, but I expect while they may judge us with the cocksure morality that can only come with existing after someone else, I don't expect them to feel any guilt because they had no influence in the matter.

[Whimsi]

I come from a long line of american poor white trash on my mom's side of the family. Not a slave in sight. But, even if there were slave owners in my family history I'd have not one shred of guilt. See, here's the thing, I wasnt born yet.

[diethx]

I don't feel guilty about anything. I didn't enslave anyone, and my ancestors were all immigrants. Nor are any of my feelings on racial equality at all influenced by guilt.

:yeahthat: My sentiments exactly.


I don't think anyone should be compelled to feel guilty over the acts of their ancestors.

I also agree with this 100%.

[Whimsi]

A more pertinent question would be whether we feel resentment over those that would insist we SHOULD feel guilty.

[Back]

A more pertinent question would be whether we feel resentment over those that would insist we SHOULD feel guilty.

Who amongst us Americans insist that and why do you feel thats more pertinent?

[Back]

Future generations may judge our years for allowing abortion to transpire, but I expect while they may judge us with the cocksure morality that can only come with existing after someone else, I don't expect them to feel any guilt because they had no influence in the matter.

QFT

[Gan]

I come from a family who has owned plantations/slaves in Virginia.

I dont agree with slavery and dont condone racial prejudice in my house.

ZOMG I have friends who are not of white origin.

I have no guilt for whats been done before me as I had no control over whats been done before me.

I live in the here and now, not in the past. If anything I use the past as a learning template for how to live (or not to live) today.

And I'll take credit for the phrase "Latent White Guilt (http://forum.gsplayers.com/showpost.php?p=700759&postcount=82)".

[Daniel]

I don't think people insist that others feel guilty over slavery but rather cognizant of the effects it has on today's society.

:shrug:

To answer the question: My white half often feels guilty for my black have and makes sure that the black half has good credit and talks respectfully in the office.

The black half contributes a larger than average phallus and rythym.

[Nieninque]

On your shoulders?

[Daniel]

No. In your mom.

[Nieninque]

Good luck with that :S

[Gan]

To answer the question: My white half often feels guilty for my black have and makes sure that the black half has good credit and talks respectfully in the office.


I also make inappropriate jokes with my superiors. I find it keeps things on edge.

Sounds like you need to have a chat with your white half.

http://www.figuresworld.net/comics/batman/kaw1_twoface.jpg

[Daniel]

Oh noeesss I wasn't 100% serious on a message board.

:(

[Seran]

I doubt more than a handful of people go through their day to day lives pining for the injustices done to slaves more than a hundred years ago.

The entire 'guilt' subject is simply an overtone to the topic of reparations. Now, imagine yourself a poor black child, or a mother with kids, or even a burgeoning teen on the edge of the law. Along comes a charismatic figure who tells you that someone owes you something, billions of dollars even, for atrocities that occured to anscesters you didn't even know you had. This person tells you that because of this, you are miserable, and it is not fault of your own, but of some nebulous concept of a white slave owner.

Your life already sucks, but you're given a drive, told to hate this evil white master and demand compensation for your losses and your pain. You needn't do anything but sit and wait for the master to be brought down and your money to arrive. Just remember what the master did to you, and don't ever forget or let your children or neighbors to forget.

This is what's being taught to folks by so called leaders like Jeremiah Wright and Louis Farrakhan. Hate, and desire for entitlements never earned, nor even deserved.

[TheEschaton]

The whole U.N. Security Council operates on guilt in terms of how they deal with Israel, in not criticizing them as harshly as other violators of SC resolutions.

Should we thus forget the Holocaust, since we didn't do it ourselves, and thus criticize Israel more harshly when they do things like fire rockets into Palestinian neighborhoods in taking out one thug, and justify it in the name of their "self-preservation"?

[Daniel]

I doubt more than a handful of people go through their day to day lives pining for the injustices done to slaves more than a hundred years ago.

The entire 'guilt' subject is simply an overtone to the topic of reparations. Now, imagine yourself a poor black child, or a mother with kids, or even a burgeoning teen on the edge of the law. Along comes a charismatic figure who tells you that someone owes you something, billions of dollars even, for atrocities that occured to anscesters you didn't even know you had. This person tells you that because of this, you are miserable, and it is not fault of your own, but of some nebulous concept of a white slave owner.

Your life already sucks, but you're given a drive, told to hate this evil white master and demand compensation for your losses and your pain. You needn't do anything but sit and wait for the master to be brought down and your money to arrive. Just remember what the master did to you, and don't ever forget or let your children or neighbors to forget.

This is what's being taught to folks by so called leaders like Jeremiah Wright and Louis Farrakhan. Hate, and desire for entitlements never earned, nor even deserved.


This is of course a gross characterization of people like Jeremiah Wright and others who actually work towards social equality.

There is a reason that the lives of so many black people suck and it isn't because they are inherently lazy or whatever you might attribute it to.

[Suppa Hobbit Mage]

This is of course a gross characterization of people like Jeremiah Wright and others who actually work towards social equality.

There is a reason that the lives of so many black people suck and it isn't because they are inherently lazy or whatever you might attribute it to.

I don't think black people are lazy any more than I think white people are. There certainly are plenty of examples of all races of lazy people. I even agree that non-white peoples have a potentially tougher road to travel due to the bigots and closed minded people in the world. I also think everyone can be successful by working hard and making sacrifices. Some people are unwilling to do that (say they don't want to move from one local to another because their family is there), and for them, I have a hard time saying they deserve everything the person who is willing to sacrifice that might get. Life is all about decisions and consequence.

On topic, I don't feel guilty, nor do I feel any guilt for the actions of my ancestors. I don't believe any of my family had slaves though, as we came from Ireland and Bohemia as immigrants a long time ago. Even if they did, I would not feel an obligation to whomever my ancestors had wronged.

[DeV]

I believe that most cognizant, intelligent white people feel the same about slavery as most cognizant, intelligent black people. It's an atrocity that happened in our country, very early on in the forming of this union which makes it all the more important in my mind. And as much as one group of people wants to forget, another will never allow it to happen.

I also believe it's ridiculous to feel guilt over something you had nothing to do with. No one owes anyone anything because of the color of their skin. What I believe is that white people owe themselves the right to remember and not feel guilt. All we can do is move forward, but that's a hope and a dream in certain portions of our society without quality education.

[Gan]

I believe that most cognizant, intelligent white people feel the same about slavery as most cognizant, intelligent black people. It's an atrocity that happened in our country, very early on in the forming of this union which makes it all the more important in my mind. And as much as one group of people wants to forget, another will never allow it to happen.

I also believe it's ridiculous to feel guilt over something you had nothing to do with. No one owes anyone anything because of the color of their skin. What I believe is that white people owe themselves the right to remember and not feel guilt. All we can do is move forward, but that's a hope and a dream in certain portions of our society without quality education.

Well said.