Well, the Geniuses of California have decided it is a good idea to reimburse the African American community in their state for the suffering of their ancestors over 150 years ago. Lets think about this for a minute.
“The Trail of Tears was an ethnic cleansing and forced displacement of approximately 60,000 people of the “Five Civilized Tribes” between 1830 and 1850 by the United States government.[3] As part of the Indian removal, members of the Cherokee, Muscogee (Creek), Seminole, Chickasaw, and Choctaw nations were forcibly removed from their ancestral homelands in the Southeastern United States to newly designated Indian Territory west of the Mississippi River after the passage of the Indian Removal Act in 1830.[4][3][5] The Cherokee removal in 1838 (the last forced removal east of the Mississippi) was brought on by the discovery of gold near Dahlonega, Georgia, in 1828, resulting in the Georgia Gold Rush.[6]
The relocated peoples suffered from exposure, disease, and starvation while en route to their newly designated Indian reserve. Thousands died from disease before reaching their destinations or shortly after.[7][8][9][10][11] Some historians have said that the event constituted a genocide, although this label has been rejected by others and remains a matter of debate.”
Wkipedia – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trail_of_Tears
I have been known to dabble in genealogy over the years. My research has shown that some of my ancestors were in fact involved in the long march from the Carolinas and resettled in Oklahoma.
Where is my check?
I am also aware that my family were land owners in in Arkansas during the 1800’s and still own land there to this very day. Just to boast a little bit, during the late 1800’s they owned the south western 25% percent of the state (Sadly Billy Clinton comes from the same neck of the woods). They also owned a fairly large African work force.
From family history handed down over the years but not yet verified my family heritage does have African slaves in the mix.
Where is my check?
So let us move on. Most of my mothers family can be traced back to England and Scotland and my fathers line can be traced backed to Ireland via genealogical research. Most came to this country as Indentured workers. Some were never able to pay off their Indenture thus becoming de-facto slaves.
Wheres my check?
By the way.
“from the 16th to the 19th centuries.[1] The vast majority of those who were transported in the transatlantic slave trade were people from Central and West Africa that had been sold by other West Africans to Western European slave traders.”
Wikipedia – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlantic_slave_trade#16th,_17th,_and_18th_centuries
It even turns out that the Spanish and English were involved in slavery at the time of the Roanoke colony. Sir Francis Drake is said to have taken African slaves from land owners in Colombia and deposited some in Cuba and the Roanoke colony in the Carolinas. Check out this article at Smithsonian Magazine (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/did-francis-drake-bring-enslaved-africans-north-america-decades-jamestown-180970075/ )
Looks like England and Spain needs to send a check!
Ok the whole point is that many peoples have been enslaved or indentured since the beginning of history. Neolithic peoples would even take conquered people as slave labor. The enslaved peoples of Europe, Asia, Egypt and elsewhere since before recorded history didn’t have it any better than the African peoples in the new world.
Perhaps they all need a check.
So going back over a century and a half to try to make things right is laughable and Gavin Newsom is a moron that thinks his “Virtue signaling” will further his career. California was never involved in slavery in the U.S. they need to shut the hell up. As for me I’m ready to put the whole business to bed.
But if they do start sending out checks I’ll be happy to take one to make them feel better.
© 2023, Richard Bailey. All rights reserved.