Slavery happened a long time ago, forget about it and move on
Submitted by James

Black people deserved to go through slavery
Submitted by Vera

African people enslaved their own people anyway
Submitted by John

Slavery happened a long time ago, forget about it and move on

Slavery happened so long ago, Black people need to forget about it and move on. We cannot be responsible for the actions of people over 200 years ago. It was a regrettable situation, but what is done is done and we cannot wind back the clock to amend the wrongs of the past.

Submitted by James

IWTR Says: The slave trade ended in 1807. Slavery continued in the British colonies 40 years afterwards. Slavery ended in Brazil in 1888. Pele’s grandmother was born a slave. Slavery ended 50 years before the beginning of the holocaust. Can you imagine telling Jewish people they should forget their holocaust in 50 years time? That statement is enough to brand someone an anti-Semitic. African people have inherited the trauma of their enslavement.

Black people deserved to go through slavery

Black people deserved to go through slavery because we were ungodly wicked and evil people, practising witchcraft and black magic. We have been cursed since the time of Noah, our evil ways had to be beaten out of us through slavery. If it wasn’t for slavery I would be in a pitiful state in Africa right now. Jesus has delivered us from evil. 

Submitted by Vera

IWTR Says: Your views originated from the Church who sanctioned slavery by declaring that African people had no souls. The Church has since apologised. You have been taught that anything that is not Christian is the work of the devil, hence you are unable to see the beauty in your own and other cultures.

African people enslaved their own people anyway

African people enslaved their own people anyway so we did nothing wrong at that time.

Submitted by John

WTR Says: On the surface this is true, although the slavery in Africa was very different. Chains were not used, there was no branding with a hot iron, there were no irrational beatings, language and traditions were kept, Rape was not allowed, children were not born into slavery, they were not demonised and some were actually indentured servants. Their dignity was not totally destroyed and on one occasion a slave became a King, see Mansa Musa.