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According to the National Archives and Records Administration, former slave owners were given up to $300 emancipation compensation for each slave they owned, after being forced to give their captives freedom.This amount was generously given to slave owners to cover any loss they may incur for not having their slaves to work their land and make money for them. They were also compensated for their loyalty to the Union during the conflict.
The District of Columbia Emancipation Act began just after President Abraham Lincoln signed the bill to end slavery in the district on April 16, 1862, and during the next nine months, 930 former slave owners were compensated by the Board of Commissioners.
Congressman Keith Maurice Ellison, the Democratic Representative for Minnesota’s 5th congressional district, told NewsOne that the U.S. government has an obligation to the families of former slaves to compensate them for the atrocities they suffered.
The Chief Deputy Whip for the 113th Congress and co-chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, went on to say that because the statue of limitations has varied content, you could possibly sue if someone killed your loved one many years ago. He adds, however, that if your great-great-great grandmother was involved in an accident, you could not sue for that today because of another part of the statute.
The 50-year-old member of the House Committee on Financial Services said that although he believes that the families of former slaves deserve reparations, we need to take a look into what exactly what slavery entailed.
Ellison went on to say that the amount of time African-Americans have been freed from slavery is nothing in comparison to the amount of time their ancestors were held captive as slaves.
“There are whole generations who lived their whole lives, had kids and died. Those kids lived their whole lives in slavery, had kids and died,” said Ellison. He continued, “Their kids lived their whole lives in slavery and died again, in slavery. There have only been about four generations after slavery”
The District of Columbia Emancipation Act began just after President Abraham Lincoln signed the bill to end slavery in the district on April 16, 1862, and during the next nine months, 930 former slave owners were compensated by the Board of Commissioners.
Congressman Keith Maurice Ellison, the Democratic Representative for Minnesota’s 5th congressional district, told NewsOne that the U.S. government has an obligation to the families of former slaves to compensate them for the atrocities they suffered.
The Chief Deputy Whip for the 113th Congress and co-chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, went on to say that because the statue of limitations has varied content, you could possibly sue if someone killed your loved one many years ago. He adds, however, that if your great-great-great grandmother was involved in an accident, you could not sue for that today because of another part of the statute.
The 50-year-old member of the House Committee on Financial Services said that although he believes that the families of former slaves deserve reparations, we need to take a look into what exactly what slavery entailed.
Ellison went on to say that the amount of time African-Americans have been freed from slavery is nothing in comparison to the amount of time their ancestors were held captive as slaves.
“There are whole generations who lived their whole lives, had kids and died. Those kids lived their whole lives in slavery, had kids and died,” said Ellison. He continued, “Their kids lived their whole lives in slavery and died again, in slavery. There have only been about four generations after slavery”
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