The UN has voted to recognise the enslavement of Africans as the “gravest crime against humanity”.
Neither I nor, to my knowledge, my ancestors were enslaved, but I can understand and empathise with the importance of acknowledging the atrocities committed against millions of people during that period.
Where I find myself conflicted is around the issue of reparations. Who would pay? Who would receive the money? How could it be distributed fairly? Who determines what is sufficient? These are complex questions without clear answers.
I fully support recognising the transatlantic slave trade as a profound crime against humanity. However, I am not convinced that financial reparations are the right path forward.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvg06q36052o
First dropped: | Last modified: March 26, 2026