The landmark resolution calls for an apology and contributions to a reparations fund, without specifying an amount.

The United Nations General Assembly has voted to recognise the enslavement of Africans during the transatlantic slave trade as “the gravest crime against humanity”, a move advocates hope will pave the way for healing and justice.

The resolution - proposed by Ghana - called for this designation, while also urging UN member states to consider apologising for the slave trade and contributing to a reparations fund. It does not mention a specific amount of money.

The proposal was adopted with 123 votes in favour and three against - the United States, Israel and Argentina.

Countries like the UK have long rejected calls to pay reparations, saying today’s institutions cannot be held responsible for past wrongs.

  • encelado748@feddit.orgEnglish
    75·
    2 days ago

    I am a westerner, born in a non slave trader country that never existed before the 1860s. The country before was not a slaver country. The country before that was client state of a slaver country, but just for 20 years! The one before that was not a slaver country. Going event further the country before that was still not a slaver country. Then it was not even a country and still not a slaver one. This until the 1200s when we abolished slavery, so I guess that before then slavery was somewhat ok, but was white people slaves so I do not think that counts.

    I think we never became rich on the spoils. We were definitely richer in the 1200s (we were so rich we paid for the slaves to be free!) and for some centuries after that. That was definitely our golden age I would say. Post war recovery after 1960 was also good, but mainly driven by local mechanical industries, not spoils I am afraid.

    • ☂️-@lemmy.mlEnglish
      920·
      2 days ago

      I am a westerner, born in a non slave trader country

      contradictory so far

            • ☂️-@lemmy.mlEnglish
              815·
              2 days ago

              the part where you think black people don’t deserve any kind of help for still being fucked by racism, just because you think you can’t keep track of it.

                • ☂️-@lemmy.mlEnglish
                  46·
                  1 day ago

                  i do, it’s just that some things really scream spoiled westerner for a global southerner, and we are usually right.

              • encelado748@feddit.orgEnglish
                103·
                2 days ago

                Never said black people don’t deserve any kind of help. That is just stupid. What I said is:

                • not all western countries are responsible for trans-atlantic slave trade
                • lot of african slave trade is from non wester countries
                • track enslavers and enslaved across 5 centuries is an impossible task

                What I agree is:

                • all countries involved in slavery should recognize the role they had in the centuries before and work to prevent discrimination and exploitation in modern society
                • neocolonialism needs to stop now
                • those countries engaged in neocolonialism needs to provide support to help underdeveloped countries

                I see nothing racist in this opinion, but please enlighten me. The only one talking all the time about black and white is actually you

                  • encelado748@feddit.orgEnglish
                    85·
                    2 days ago

                    There is no need for racism to enable modern exploitation. Most western countries exploit their own citizens. Neocolonialism is driven by profit maximization, geopolitical realism and capitalism. See Soviet economic imperialism and china belt and road initiative. Race was a moral justification in the past. It is not needed anymore.