Do you care about your ancestors or your descendants?

I've thought about this a lot over the past few years as we keep hearing about how generic white people did bad things to generic black or brown people. What always catches my attention is when someone will say, "You did this to us!"

My first thought is always, "Wait...I was born in 1970, and you were born in 1982. You're talking about groups of people born way before both of us and you're attributing someone else's bad actions with me and someone else's suffering with you."

It's made me think...how far back to I even care about what my own family members went through? Truth is, not that far. I care about the grandparents I knew, which were three out of the four. It certainly would upset me to know they went through bad things, and given when and where they were born (early 1900's in the South) they certainly saw plenty of bad times. I also care about the grandfather I did not meet, mostly because he was my Dad's father and the husband of the grandmother who raised me. But before that? Other than seeing a few old faded photos and a couple of stories I can't even really remember, I honestly don't. And that only gets me to about 1890 or so. And before then I certainly don't give even a single rat's arse to be blunt. I have no more relationship with them than I would going back an additional 1000 years. Those people are complete and utter strangers to me.

Likewise, looking forward. I obviously care about my own sons. And one day if they are fortunate enough to have children of their own I'd certainly care about them...and I care about them in theory now. I hope I live long enough to meet them. And, I guess I care about the grandchildren of my own sons because I'd like for them to be able to know and love those kids if they ever exist. But beyond that? No...I'd be lying if I said I really care at all beyond a general sense of hoping things or good for everyone, etc.

My general point here is that I just don't believe anyone when they have some sort of angst about the mistreatment of people that happen to share the same skin tone as they do hundreds of years ago, at the hands of people who happen to share the same skin tone as I do. This is clearly just a means to an end, and a convenient hammer to hit people with.

Am I alone in this? If you found out that your great great great grandmother was raped by someone who looked like another race, would you honestly care about what she went through in a more connected way then you would hearing about some generic historical figure going through something similar or harbor bad feelings because of it towards people who happen to resemble the person who did this bad things 150+ years ago?