The landmark resolution calls for an apology and contributions to a reparations fund, without specifying an amount.

The United Nations General Assembly has voted to recognise the enslavement of Africans during the transatlantic slave trade as “the gravest crime against humanity”, a move advocates hope will pave the way for healing and justice.

The resolution - proposed by Ghana - called for this designation, while also urging UN member states to consider apologising for the slave trade and contributing to a reparations fund. It does not mention a specific amount of money.

The proposal was adopted with 123 votes in favour and three against - the United States, Israel and Argentina.

Countries like the UK have long rejected calls to pay reparations, saying today’s institutions cannot be held responsible for past wrongs.

  • geneva_convenience@lemmy.mlOPEnglish
    0·
    11 days ago

    The war was not fought over slavery. That was only a convenient add-on. The US south was the primary party benefiting from slavery and the north wasn’t. Therefore it was easy for the North to tack that on the list.

    While I don’t see it as a bad thing, it was certainly not the primary motivator or reason the civil war was fought. Also it took quite a while after the civil war to actually abolish slavery and even now there are have things like forced prison labor which is primarily done by black men whose neighborhoods are overpoliced.

    • belastend@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
      0·
      11 days ago

      It was not a primary factor for the north. For the south, slavery was the single most important issue for fighting this war.

      • geneva_convenience@lemmy.mlOPEnglish
        0·
        11 days ago

        Can’t you see how this story doesn’t make sense? Slavery already existed. So if the North didn’t care about slavery, then why would the South need to fight for it?

        • belastend@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
          0·
          10 days ago

          Brother. Don’t take it up with me, take it up the politicians of the south who named slavery as the number one issue for seceding and going to war. The north did not want an expansion of slavery, for the south the expansion of slavery was essential. And with Lincoln, there was a president in the white House, who at least tacitly supported the abolition of slavery before the war.

    • Mulligrubs@lemmy.worldEnglish
      0·
      11 days ago

      The war was fought over slavery according to the South’s constitution.

      You quoted the wrong side, I suggest that you correct this mistake in the future.

      The statement that “the war was not fought over slavery” is a falsehood according to history. It’s not an obscure fact, you can read their constitution at any time. Educate yourself, please, you make me wince in embarrassment