How can America repay the black community for the free labor of slavery?

Since slavery and oppression in america was about 400 years long, and equality under the law has been only about 40-50 years, what is the social responsibility of all americans to even the uneven economic playing field. Especially since the U.S became an economic powerhouse directly from the free labor of slaves.

I see no one wanted to touch this question...It's probably because the answer is they really can't. There has been so much hurt and pain, that you cannot put a price tag on that. Yes the reparations idea is a start...but it's like telling someone you are going to perm their hair and you only go as far as parting it into 4s. Not as deep of an analogy, but you get my drift. You've only begun...

let the blacks boss you around for a few years... and elect a black president.. then maybe ur country would do something right for once.

give them their 40 acres and a mule
so they will finally SHUT UP

They can't. That's why we need to get on with life. I'm not saying forget, just move forward.

Oh shut up. Every country in western hemisphere and most of europe had black slaves. Blacks today have the same rights. We owe no one nothing and have no responsiblity at all.

Why, The economy of slavery was concentrated in the south. That economy was destroyed by the Civil War. I don't get your point.

get over it and move on. who's paying for the concentration camp murders of the Jews? If you personally weren't a slave, and you couldn't have been, nobody owes you anything. Quit making excuses for yourself, stop whining and become productive and something special. You do realize you can do that don't you?

400 hundred years long? The US is only about 200 more or less years old genius. And we don't owe blacks nothing today because they're not the ones who've been slaves. And we didn't become an economic powerhouse with slave labor, it was by hardworking Americans. We became an economic powerhouse after WW2 and slavery was abolished way before that. I'm pretty sure the fact that us Americans fighting for the end of slavery would be enough compensation, if you wanna be pissed at someone then be pissed at the South who would still wanna have slaves.

I personally do not feel responsible at all.Yes I am caucasion but of also Native American descent(as well as others).I am very sorry that slavery happened and am very ashamed of my ancestors.However I do not feel it is fair for me and my family to be held accountable for slavery nor its repercussions.We were not born during that time.I just thank the good LORD for everyday with my family and others.I do believe that the direct descendants of slaves should be awarded money or land(or both) of what they(respectively)are entitled to.I wish we could heal as a human race altogether.Me speaking of my felt unfairness is not compared to slavery at all.But;I refuse to sacrifice my or my family's life for actions of which we had no control over.Sometimes I feel as if I am owed something too.

What happened was wrong, and since the 60's America has tried to make up for it through affirmative action and laws aimed at protecting African-Americana's rights and property. The answer isn't reparations, it's been too long for the 40 acres and a mule scenario to do any good, especially considering there was still free land in the west at the end of the civil war.
The way ahead is to put school funding completely at the state level so poor inner city schools get the same amount of money as their suburban counterparts.

If America had to pay anyone, it would be the people who went through those problems..The Black people of today are not the black people years ago. There is no comparison so in that case the US does not owe any Black person anything!

Why do you continue with this stupid rhetoric? I for one am sick and tired of people like you bitching and moaning. You are not a slave and most likely have never seen anyone who has ever been one. I agree slavery was terrible. It should have never been. Think about this. If it had not been where would you be now? It would seem probable that you would be somewhere in Africa. You are sitting or standing on property that was owned by the American Indians so am I. I don't hear The Indians belly aching about that. So lets be fair why don't you deed the property back to the heirs of the rightful owners. It is still morally theirs. In the mean time stand on your feet, work hard, quit griping and see what happens. It might surprise you.

The way I look at it is that we tried to give blacks there own schools, and even water fountains, they B*tched about it, now what do they want? there own damn schools, and beauty pageants. you can not please them. They will never be happy. What if they had an all white school or church? Someone would get sued.

Repay what? I never owned any slaves. That's one for the Guinness book of records, a 200yr old slave.

free labor? how stupid are you? who paid for the slaves food, clothing, housing, medicine, every need was supplied by the slave owner, it just wasn't in cash. your pay goes to the same things today, but you can get fired, and evicted from your home. that couldn't happen to slaves. in the north, people were paid a dollar a day, and had to take care of an entire family on it. if you got fired, your family starved. any slave who had any talent or brains could rent himself out to people who couldn't afford full time slaves, and he got paid CASH. if he did that every sunday for 6 or 7 years, he could buy his freedom. the only blacks who were still slaves when the war started were the dumbest and the laziest who were left over

Nearly everyone in America who is of working age now started working after the passage of the Civil Rights' Act. The only thing standing in the way of an even playing field now is the decision of many African-Americans to embrace "low culture."

Those African-Americans, like white Americans, with talent and marketable skills, whether they be doctors, lawyers, NBA stars, entertainers or entrepreneurs are getting paid.