[cfadvan]

The problem is that like “Black people” the phrase “White people” is meaningless. Plenty of people who Americans would lump together as “blacks” were never enslaved ( or had ancestors enslaved). Plenty of people Americans would lump together has “whites” had nothing to do with the slave trade. I’m of Russian descent for example, and no one in my admittedly very white family tree enslaved anyone of African descent.

The whole world doesn’t have to answer to the crimes of Americans, Western Europe, and West Africa. That’s (presumably) your baggage, not mine. By contrast my ancestors have a lot to answer for where Tatars are concerned, and yet you fellow “white” person, had nothing to do with it.

[ironjunkie]

I agree with you, and this is the whole issue with identity politics. It is all about categorizing people and assuming everything about them based on their groups. We should look at the individuals.

[areyousure]

Fyi, two years ago I asked 'rayiner (who is active on this thread, and also in the top 10 of all time on this site) whether I should feel guilty about slavery given that I am from a similar situation as yours.

The answer, according to 'rayiner, is yes, though less than the people who caused the problem in the first place. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=11314077