The entire country is a monument to black slaves.....

[liberalitch]

Black slaves
Chinese railroad workers
Hispanic farm workers
Poor white factory workers/farmers
also to any body who ever came here looking for something better

Without these people we'd be nothing

[gademocrat7]

1. Amen

[Deja Q]

2. Another reason why the big corporate execs and politicians want to destroy

America, perhaps?

[bryant69]

3. Wait a moment

I thought it was a tribute to hard working executives and robber barons who built enormous fortunes all by themselves!

you know when I put it that way it does seem a little far fetched.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[laura888]

4. OK - I have to make this comment

The only people who were brought here (as a group) completely against their will, and held as property, were the black slaves.

I think this difference needs to be noted.

[hexola]

5. The Civil War...

...made us ALL Slaves...

[liberalitch]

7. That's why I indicated people who came voluntarily last...

I KNOW they didn't make that choice.... but their contributions to the nation we have become (or once were thanks to *) IS their doing.
AS WELL AS those who came of their own accord

[laura888]

10. I understand this wasn't the point of the original post

It just seems that the difference between these groups' circumstances requires some acknowledgement.

[tjdee]

13. I agree.

And it's probably because I am black, but IMO there is a huge difference between the African slaves and the immigrant workers.

Also, the immigrant workers got here and *also* treated black people like shit, if I'm not mistaken. That's got to be the ultimate in cheek. I mean, the draft riots were fucking ridiculous.

on edit--I too understand that's not the point of the original post, which I agree with. I'd add Native Americans to that list...the Pilgrims couldn't have survived without the natives to help.

[Garth Beaumont]

6. Not to mention

the Native American!

[liberalitch]

8. oh, well that's like saying the sky is blue....

and we need oxygen.... it should go without saying.
But I know people forget

[newyawker99]

9. Hi Garth Beaumont!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[no_hypocrisy]

11. This country could not become established financially without

free, unlimited slave labor. And that's a major reason why the North demanded that the South stop utilizing slaves; it could not compete against the growing wealth of the Southern agriculture when as a region, the North was forced to pay wages to its laborers. Since then this country hasn't missed a year of not exploiting immigrants (compelled or voluntary) in order to covet its wealth.

[seabeyond]

12. without people with capital, orginizational skills, management

ability, creative ideas, there wouldnt be a country either. that is the nifty, it took the whole of society