Cultural Perceptions of Africans in Diaspora and in Africa on Atlantic Slave Trade and Reparations

Abstract

Abstract This study examines the cultural perceptions of Africans in Diaspora on the Atlantic slave trade and reparations. It uses a cultural centered model to analyze the perception of Africans in Diaspora about the issue of slavery and reparations. The paper also uses a survey method to explore the perceptions of African-Americans in the United States, Africans living in Europe, and Africans living in the African continent about reparations. It argues that the environmental, religious, occupational, social and political conditions that Africans in Diaspora currently live in will determine their perception of slavery and reparations. Despite this argument, the paper stresses that it is a violation of the established precedence in law that is based on the principle of unjust enrichment to not pay some reparations to the present generation of Africans. This principle stipulates that if a person, a corporation or a country profit from the criminal treatment of a group of people, such a person, corporation or country is subject to the payment of reparations on the basis of unjust enrichment. The study further attempts to explain why it has been difficult for the western industrial world to agree to pay reparations to the children of over 25,000,000 Africans who were wrenched out of Africa as slaves. The concluding section of the paper suggests different reparation methods that would help create a permanent solution that might be acceptable to all.