wnyc.org / 93.9fm / am 820

Comments

• [1] Brian Coape-Arnold from Garden City, N.Y. June 23, 2008 - 12:11PM

  As a Canadian living in New York, I was proud to believe that my family was free of America's original sin, slavery, until I recently found out one of my ancestors (Henry Coape) owned slaves in the Carolinas during colonial times. It came as quite a surprise.

  
  
• [2] David Harrington from Manhattan June 23, 2008 - 12:47PM

  W. G. Sebald, in "Rings of Saturn" writes about the fact that so much money from the slave trade is still in circulation. Indeed, many of the most prominent families in the US and Europe--not to mention companies (e.g. Pratt & Whitney)--can trace their fortunes to the slave trade. What happened to your family's wealth, and how do you personally deal with the fact that your wealth has come from such an abominable practice?

  
  
• [3] mc from Brooklyn June 23, 2008 - 12:53PM

  David #2

  This country has yet to deal with the fact that its basic economy and the engine that flourished was built on the backs of slaves. None of us is free of it.

  
  
• [4] Kenneth McLean from Stamford Connecticut June 23, 2008 - 01:05PM

  On:Confronting a Family’s Slave-Trading Past

  Take away the guilt and realize it is the systemic legacy that has the lingering oppression on everyone. Thus, the only culprit is the one using these system devices to establish their platforms.

  
  
• [5] Josh from UWS June 23, 2008 - 01:06PM

  mc, #3

  That is exactly the defensive response that she is talking about!

  you need to move beyond that, it is not about blaming, it is talking frankly with out taking it personally, and the truth can be painful.

  
  
• [6] mc from Brooklyn June 23, 2008 - 01:21PM

  Josh,

  I am not blaming or taking it personally. I am just stating that the US collectively has yet to acknowledge that the foundation of its economy and prosperity was built on the backs of slaves. Not all of the slaves were black. Not all of the slaveowners were white. What you say about not taking it personally is exactly what I am doing. My family is descended from slaves, slaveowners and abolitionists. I neither take credit nor accept guilt for it.

  
  
• [7] John from CT June 23, 2008 - 01:43PM

  I think that Kitrina's study was quite interesting and useful in teaching more about slavery in the US, however I am put off by the self loathing that came across in her interview. I can understand her being sickened by her family's actions two hundred years ago, however she shouldn't have to carry it as her own burden. I disagree that every black person in the US should feel "pissed off" daily. This country has so much opportunity to offer if one chooses to accept personal responsibility for themselves, apply themselves towards their own goals, and chooses to forgoe many of the popular and trivial comforts of the modern US. Anyone can be successful if they choose to do so. I also do not agree that Barack Obama is the healer of racism in America- while there are great black people throughout the country working towards making the country better for us all, he's a polician just like every other one. He's there for the power and to be elected. I think he can be useful in the racial healing process, however I don't feel that it is our duty to elect him based on his race. If his policies are poor, it will be like putting a feel good smily face band-aid on a severed limb. We must work with clear minds.

  I hope Kitrina's inspiration to create something useful from her personal pain will educate others and help her heal.

  
  
• [8] hjs from 11211 June 23, 2008 - 01:44PM

  and please don't forget the free land we took from the natives!

  
  
• [9] Margret from Harlem June 23, 2008 - 01:45PM

  TO ALL THOSE WHO FEEL THE NEED TO RESPOND TO MY COMMENTS.

  WE ALL SHOULD FEEL RESPONSIBLE, BECAUSE WE ALL BENEFIT AND ARE HURT BY THE PRESENT SYSTEM IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER...!

  THAT MAKES US ALL RESPONSIBLE TO MAKE AN EFFORT TO MAKE AMENDS AND NOT BE REACTIONARY TO THIS ISSUE.

  LIKE SHE INDICATED.

  
  
• [10] mc from Brooklyn June 23, 2008 - 01:52PM

  I think that it is possible to be "responsible" in a macro sense without taking personal responsibility. I don't think that it is necessary for anyone to beat up on themselves. But there should be a way to look at what happened straight on and acknowledge it. That is why I appreciate historians. They look for the truth, what actually happened and then they report it. It is always more complicated than people think. I don't know if ammends are possible. It is possible for each of us to look closely at the culture and at ourselves and ask where we go from here.

  
  
• [11] perri June 23, 2008 - 05:07PM

  Exactly, hjs!

  This country was founded on thievery. Thievery of property that belonged to native peoples. And of course the thievery of peoples who belonged to the African continent. (And yes, Africans were complicit so a portion of blame goes to them as well.)

  Everybody dreams of the "American Dream," but there could be no such dream without the nightmares created by thievery.

  
  
• [12] Boris from NJ June 28, 2008 - 11:37AM

  African slave trade started with African slave traders. In fact Africans' participation in capturing (and often killing), enslaving, transporting, holding and selling (!) their human product was the most important element of the slave trade. Somehow this is all but forgotten.

  And, yes, this country was founded on thievery. Like any other one...