3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
An erudite account of America's unpleasant history, May 1, 2010
This review is from: Belinda's Petition: A Concise History of Reparations For The TransAtlantic Slave Trade (Paperback)
This issue is so important that every individual in the world should read Belinda's Petition, and why? Too many of us are uninformed in the premises of these events, and simply because it represents America's flat-tire that has never been fixed, or as skeletons in the closet. Raymond A. Winbush sets out for us historical facts that have never been unchallenged. To-date, no one has attempted to deny that these horrible racial crimes were done in America by callous, unclean, hostile, unredeemable, supercilious white supremacist individuals, who's now poised to minimized their crimes and not to pay. No one denies that 250 years of free slaves labor and 100 years of disgraceful legal race discrimination, increased tremendously the American great wealth. So what else could there be that blocks payments of equitable payment for reparation which was caused by a governmental abuse of helpless subjugated people? Of course nothing, except that it be guilt-struck people are insulated from heartfelt virtues of honesty and healthy conscience? The account of this book reveals something amazing, of how white supremacist people are found diseased in being terrorist, nomadic, forceful, possessive, genocidal, and as thieves without one sparkle of needed human shame. But wants to be known as supremacist among the human race. Now it's vivid that those characteristics comprised a parallel object of the Berlin Wall, that reparation is up against, and that makes it really laughable!
The irony affecting the whole post Transatlantic Slave Trade is--facade laws that claim to free slaves, while their descendants continue living in poverty, and having to fight discrimination in achieving equal treatment everyday. It's sad to have a governmental entity committing crimes against humanity by enslavement, and then have no remorse for doing it. Failure to pay reparation as discussed in Belinda's Petition, is strong evidence that there's no sorrow by that affected lineage of people, toward such nauseous crime. I'm spreading the word about Belinda's to my friends and strangers. This book should be read across racial lines, so that all minds can be healed of past misconducts and results in a change of racial attitude.
America can't be great in military might alone, it takes allot more than that to be really great when you consider it, and must adds to its' image solid justice and good morals too. Make this book a must read to be more and enlightened and aware of the world we live in.
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4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Living with Belinda's, June 23, 2009
This review is from: Belinda's Petition: A Concise History of Reparations For The TransAtlantic Slave Trade (Paperback)
Belinda's Petition is a riveting story and analysis of historical importance, written simply without distortion of romance. Yet, I found myself romancing this courageous, innovative and progressive woman, who could not read words, but could read her soul. I found myself weeping in the face of the great self-confirmation that she brought to life.
Belinda's Petition is but one in a long history of the reparations struggle that is sewn in the fabric of African history for the past 550 years. This concise story of the reparations struggle is meant to provide a "view from the bridge" on the ongoing struggle of Africans throughout the world in obtaining justice for the most heinous crime of the past millennium --- the Transatlantic Slave Trade.
Whether you support or oppose reparations is unimportant; what Belinda's Petition will show you is that the western world is built upon 500 years of the unpaid labor of millions of enslaved Africans whose call for justice has been conscious, courageous and consistent since they were first captured in 1441 by Europeans.
The book painfully carries the reader to a place in slavery others fail to do. Winbush's portrayal and examination of her takes the reader to Belinda's lost - the lost of place. A lost which most descendants of the American slaves find difficult to call their own. With this book, there can be no such denial, starting with the first nod of "Yes!", whispered over and over.
Winbush throughout pushes all of the buttons on the importance of being able to claim "place" and how the need so engenders the best in you, and the recognition of the worst that was in slavery. Winbush has a way of thinking simply, yet powerfully, about so many complex and painful issues.
The idea that one of the wealthiest en dowers of Harvard University simply dismissed slaves to emptiness at the time of manumission; and,at the same time would give thousands of dollars for the first chair at Harvard University shocks you into a more real world that was the system of slavery in this country. It made real this woman Belinda, more real and her courage to sue to "claim back" what had been stolen more chilling and victorious. The Petition itself becomes a poker hot document which burns but does not char or burn away.
Winbush does a sensational job in helping the reader understand the history and the future of the descendants of Belinda. Though I read the book prior to the unanimous vote of the USHOR to issue an apology for American slavery, I believed that such a gesture is merely that. I suggest that a copy of Belinda's Petition should be placed on the desk of every member of Congress to give grit to the gesture. Perhaps it would be an impetus for our elected officials to recognize how empty such a gesture seems. Even a slave woman in 1782 who could not read understood this. Maybe we can have Congressman/woman musing, "WWBS?"
(What would Belinda Say)
Belinda is so welcomed into my heart, thank you Dr. Winbush for giving her to me. I now have my own Beloved.
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