A personal, biblical, and historical response to the ever-present demand that we all pay for someone else’s sins.
We’ve all read and watched the countless fist-shakers on tv on social media demanding “reparations” and eternal guilt from anyone white (or in many cases, white appearing). Usually I roll my eyes and keep scrolling. But a short while back, I had a woman go full angry activist at me on social media for my “whiteness.”
She insisted my “white privilege” made me an oppressor who should be ashamed of not only my ancestors, but of myself for, well, being the descendent of people who probably owned black people.
(And, yes, she was white appearing.)
Um, pardon? Had I not awarded her an insta-block, I’d have told her, “Hon, I am the granddaughter (and daughter) of Cuban and German legal immigrants. And they were way too busy escaping actual communism and tyranny to be owning anyone or anything.”
*Please, do yourself the greatest favor and do NOT waste your time arguing with these people on the internet. Their agenda is to drag you into their strawman argument, not reach an understanding.)
The absurdity of her assumptive statements was enough to tell me responding to this person would be a huge waste of my time, energy, and intelligence. But to be honest, the petty part of me wanted to, So, instead, I’m writing this as a general response to all the clowns who spew this insanity with a straight face.
Let me start with this:
I am not apologizing for something I didn’t do. And I’m certainly not cutting a check for it.”
This post isn’t just a rant (though it’s a good one). It’s a deep dive into why this modern-day guilt-shaming—especially around reparations—isn’t just misguided. It’s historically illiterate, logically bankrupt, and biblically unsound.
The Problem with Collective Guilt
Let’s just get one thing straight right out of the gate: the Bible doesn’t teach that children bear the guilt of their ancestors. In fact, Ezekiel 18:20 spells it out in black and white (no pun intended):
“The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son…”
Pretty straightforward, right? God, in His perfect justice, holds each person accountable for their own actions. Yet modern activists are pushing a narrative that says: “If you look like someone who may have owned slaves 200 years ago, you need to pay up.” That’s not justice. That’s vengeance with a PR team.
But What If Your Ancestors Weren’t Even Here?
Let’s talk about the millions of Americans whose families immigrated here after slavery ended. Like mine.
My Cuban side? Came to escape communism, not to join a country club.
My German side? Fled a post-war hellscape looking for freedom, not field hands.
They weren’t here when plantations dotted the South. They weren’t invited to the table of early American wealth. In fact, they were working 12-hour shifts in factories and picking up broken English like it was a second full-time job.
So when someone says “You owe reparations,” I’d respond: “To whom? For what? And based on what twisted logic?”
Reparations: The Math Doesn’t Add Up
Even if we suspend reality for a moment and pretend that all white Americans descended from plantation owners (they didn’t), how would this even work? Who qualifies? Who pays? And how do we trace all of this accurately?
Also, can we talk about the hypocrisy of demanding reparations while rejecting other historic atrocities that don’t fit the progressive narrative?
No one’s writing checks to descendants of Irish indentured servants.
No one’s cutting land deals for the Armenians who survived genocide.
No one’s offering amends to Cubans whose families lost everything to Castro’s regime.
So let’s stop pretending this is about justice. This is about power, division, and guilt manipulation.
The Ugly Truth About the Reparations Narrative
Here’s what they don’t want you to know:
Only a tiny percentage of Americans ever owned slaves. At its peak, only about 1.5% of the population did.
Many white Americans fought and died to end slavery. Union soldiers bled out in fields so that others could be free.
Some African Americans also owned slaves. Yep, history is messy—and it doesn’t always fit into neat oppressor/victim categories.
The “All white people owe Black people” argument erases the nuance of individual stories—like yours, and mine. It replaces truth with stereotype. Ironically, that’s the very thing they claim to be fighting against.
What You Can Do: Stand Firm, Speak Boldly
Here’s how we lovingly (but firmly) push back:
1. Know Your Family Story
Your background matters. Share it. When they try to flatten you into a skin color, unfold your history. Your family’s story is a counter-narrative to the guilt trip.
2. Learn Real History
Get into the weeds. Know the stats. Know the timelines. Know that reparations have already been paid in blood and reform—by people of every race.
3. Don’t Accept False Guilt
Jesus died to free you from sin—not so modern activists could tie new chains of shame around your ankles. “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” (Galatians 5:1)
4. Speak Truth with Grace
This isn’t about mocking others. It’s about rejecting untruth. Speak plainly. Love fiercely. But never compromise.
Final Thought:
I won’t apologize for being born with lighter skin. I won’t carry guilt for sins I didn’t commit. And I certainly won’t teach my grandchildren to view themselves as oppressors by default.
My family came here with scars, with stories, and with nothing in their pockets. They built a life, not by stepping on others—but by getting stepped on, and rising anyway.
That’s the American story. And no one gets to rewrite it for me.
Join Elsa on Social Media HERE, HERE, and HERE
Check out Elsa’s Bold Faith, Real Truth, No Apologies apparel HERE
