by Dexter Rogers

Created on: April 21, 2009

Historically government and big business has gone hand in hand commencing with the rise of American slavery. Slavery is a topic most shun but I think it's a perfect opportunity to provide insight into the past so we can better understand what's happening today with the economy from an African American standpoint.

This rubs me the wrong way on two fronts. One, the American people are being screwed to the wall. Two, being an African American big government and big business reminds me of a wrong that's yet corrected and that's the issue of whether reparations should be the descendants of those who built this country.

I emphatically say yes. Government needs to pay up.

First, we must acknowledge slavery did happen. This country still suffers from the effects of slavery. But, like racism, no constructive collective dialogue has taken place to put the scars of slavery in its proper historical context.

The first slaves arrived in Jamestown, Virginia in 1619 as indentured servants but by the 1640's the institution intensified to full-blown bondage. Slaves weren't considered human beings with rights-they were considered sub-human and were treated as such.

The preeminent factor regarding slavery wasn't race as, it was economics. White oppressors saw an opportunity to take advantage of forcing servitude on African slaves. The latter allowed the institution to thrive economically at expense of innocent people.

Slaves weren't paid a dime for centuries of service. Mind you, there were no 401K's, mutual funds, or IRA's. Slaves worked from sun up to sun down to fill the pockets of their self-anointed masters.

Can you imagine working for an entire year and have your earnings revert back to your employer instead of your pocket? The latter would ensure your family would suffer. Now, imagine this system being in place for four centuries.

This country's economic base was built on free African labor that was sanctioned by the government. When the economics of slavery was threatened the government instituted legislation to ensure slavery would pervade. Government and plantation owners have amassed wealth and kept to themselves without giving back anything they essentially stole monetarily.

This should sound familiar because the same thing is happening right before our eyes but it's involving everyone and not just African Americans.

The monies amassed by plantation owners were kept in the family and handed down to future generations with government support. I think African Americans have a

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