Book Gives Master Potter--and Slave--His Due | Newsweek Books

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Posted By: MadSat @ 10/14/2008 7:48:49 AM

Well, excuse me but slavery in modern Africa and the Arab states has been condemned about a billion times in the last few years. If you haven't noticed that, it's because you haven't paid attention. It's generally referred to as "human trafficking" now, but migod, I have to watch videos on that every few weeks where I'm stationed and get cautioned about doing nothing that might support it. Good grief, pay some attention!

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Posted By: haynessemperfi @ 10/13/2008 1:07:56 PM

Distantsmoke: I agree with you 100%. I got in an argument once with a "black militant" who said America owes black America for slavery with the promised 30 acres and a mule. I told him he was crazy. I questioned what good would be achieved if we didn't request reparations from Africa and European countries primarily: France, England, Spain, Portugal and the Netherlands (Dutch West Indie Company). He unsurprising was shocked at my response. He statad only America owes. I argued you back that holding only America responsible disrespected the lives of those who dead in transport to the Americas and those who dead at the slave holding facilities in Haiti. Needless to say, I won the debate. However, it was a hard sell.

I do disagree with your statement that Arabs were much kinder masters. Only to those who were forcely converted to Islam. Even then better treatment was questionable.

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Posted By: distantsmoke @ 10/12/2008 10:35:29 AM

What century do we get to talk how Africans then and now sold/are selling their brothers and sisters into slavery? Anyone notice how history is replete with the condemnation of Whites who bought Africans, but no one ever mentions the seller? That's because African tribes, then as they still are doing now, raided other tribes for slaves to sell to ANYONE who would buy them. When Whites stopped buying African slaves, the Africans started selling them to the Arabs, who are such very very kind masters.

I don't approve of slavery. I think it's a revolting, disgusting institution the banning of which should be enforced all over the world by the UN. But condemning one group of people who once were buyers, does not solve the overall problem. If African Americans are so offended by slavery why don't they do something about CURRENT DAY slavery in the Middle East? Is it easier to discuss how your great great grandmother was beaten because she made a bad cake one day, then to discuss how Africans today are being physically mutilated by their Muslim masters?

Why hasn't the Black Congressional Caucus at a minimum condemned modern day slavery of Africans? Why don't African Americans hold protests to condemn modern day slavery of Africans? Why doesn'y Barrack Obama condemn modern day slavery of Africans? Is it only PAST slavery that bothers you so much? If my White neighbor went out and bought an African to use as a slave would you still be quiet? How can you only condemn the ownership of slaves by only one populations group?
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  Posted By: skyaire @ 10/13/2008 1:05:11 PM
  
  that is a very ignorant comment. For one, Barack Obama catches enough flack for not being "american" enough. Secondly, all Americans, not just African Americans are doing plenty to address the genocide, starvation, slavery, and death from preventable disease going on in Africa. We just have a hard time getting the government and media to acknowledege it. Obviously there is not much private citizens groups can do up against soverign governments

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Posted By: Joseph Duvernay @ 10/11/2008 4:18:00 PM

Yeah! And so it goes. No real reconciliation, more and more appropriation
And I'll not angry here for Dave who knew who he was, as did every other African
snatched by fate from their Arab-stolen land.
Nothing is owed, nothing is true; only the love of who
kept faith in the rest, who were--not quite human.