LuteMonkey,

I also am very impatient with the lack of progress the United States has made in dismantaling institutional racism [in housing, health care, educational systems, employment, criminal justice systems etc]. And I am saddened by the ignorance and insensitivity some people of all races & ethnicities still have towards people whose backgrounds are different from theirs.

That being said, I don't think that it is helpful to continue to blame White people alone for 17th-19th African slavery.

While it is true that chattel slavery was largely orchestrated by people of European descent, it is a documented fact that Black Africans and Arabians also were heavily involved in and also profited from African slavery.

Therefore Black Africans and Arabians also have 'blood on their hands', as some West African ethnic groups have acknowledged. Though I can't find the citations now, I recall reading that not too long ago some West African ethnic groups [in Ghana?] have asked forgiveness from African Americans for their role in slavery.

It seems to me that while it is important to study the real history of African slavery [and other examples of 'man's' inhumanity to 'man'], it is also important to do all we can in the present to make the future better for all people-irregardless of their race and ethnicity.

As the church song goes "If I can help somebody as I travel along..then my living will not be in vain..."


Azizi