Posted on 05/06/2012 1:18:51 AM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
For more than 45 million black Americans, there are many issues that unite or divide us. Undoubtedly, the issue of reparations for African people in general and in particular for black Americans is an issue began as a divisive topic but now receives support from a board cross-section of blacks in America.
Of course, there are some who wanted to table a national discussion of reparations in the aftermath of the election of President Barack H. Obama. Yet, there were many others who have argued that now is the most propitious time to accelerate the national dialogue about reparations because there is a "brother" in the White House.
This is a pivotal year because of the November elections. Any issue that is related to race will be used by those who oppose to President Obama. The goal of conservatives is to polarize American voters to vote their racial prejudice instead of voting their conscience about the future of the nation as an inclusive participatory democracy.
Given the recent polarization around the calls for equal justice and fairness in the Trayvon Martin killing, it would be naïve to think that race will not play a factor in the upcoming elections. The truth is race is just not a problem that crept onto the national scene accidentally. Race has been a social, economic, and political problem in America for more than 200 years. This is nothing new. What is new, however, is how the victims of racism see themselves, and how the perpetrators of racism view themselves.
Fortunately, renowned legal scholars such as Harvard's Charles Ogletree and others have articulated a rational defense for reparations, which would be therapeutic not only for black Americans, but also for all Americans.
I have consistently supported the call and the demand for reparations that go beyond whatever monetary compensation. Reparations are also about "repairing the damage" that was done to millions of African people, not just in America, but in the Caribbean, Central and South America, in Africa and throughout the rest of the world.
The United Nations is slowly working on establishing a permanent memorial to the victims of the infamous trans-Atlantic slave trade. In Washington, D.C., the construction of the African American Museum has begun. The United States Senate has issued an "apology" for slavery. And in my home state of North Carolina, Gov. Bev Perdue has just called for the state to spend $10.3 million in "reparations" to the victims of a vicious eugenics state program that sterilized thousands of people against their will. Most of those who were unjustly and savagely sterilized were black. Again, no amount of money could ever justify or rectify that awful and callous past. Still, Gov. Perdue's actions are the right steps at the right time. Healing is a long-term process. It takes time. The perpetrators of racism need a "repairing" of their minds and hearts.
It is interesting to note that even amidst a recovering of the American economy from the threshold of severe economic ruin, billions of dollars are being spent by candidates and campaigns for political office throughout the U.S. like they have unlimited money-trees to spend without reservation or limitation. The point here is so much of the "old money" and ingrained wealth of the nation came directly from the systematic economic exploitation of African people during 500 years of slavery and post-slavery institution-building. That is why it will take a tremendous calculation to determine a full accounting of the financial and human toll of the slave trade and its aftermath. Harper's magazine did a study that concluded that the U.S. owes black Americans more than $100 trillion in reparations. It is probably more than that.
This may not be the perfect time to raise this issue. Judging by the past, there is never a perfect time. Today is as good as any time. Let's work harder on the issue of reparations. We can begin by supporting the National Coalition of Blacks for Reparations in America (NCOBRA), which will hold its national convention in Philadelphia, June 22-24. Reparations for black Americans should be supported by all Americans.
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Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr. is president of the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network (HSAN) and Education Online Services Corporation and serves as the national director of Occupy the Dream. He can be reached at drbenjamin.chavis@gmail.com
I am polish, I am owed from the germans, the russians and probably a few other groups too....
Gimmie gimmie gimmie.....
Maybe we should pay reparations on the agreement that if they ever whine about the “white man keeping them down” that they have to pay back the reparations WITH interest!
And what, exactly, have the descendants of freed American slaves offered to pay to the descendants of the Union dead who freed them?
The price for their freedom was paid a long time ago, in blood.
My family did not own slaves - in fact, my people came to the USA after the Civil War....
Why should I pay “reparations” to anyone?
Sorry but you better watch out ,the 96% that Vote for Obama are all Slaves to the Democrat Liberal Slave Masters. You May have to Pay Out a Lot of money
Uh, because you’re an evil white person? Do I win?
Hard to tell the difference anymore isn’t it?
Self censored comment due to restrictions on race related posts.
Perhaps there should be a little gratitude expressed for slavery. The alternative was death, either during the battle or immediately upon losing the battle. The modern term is ‘no quarter.’
Have you not heard of the Pigford Case? Remember Shirley Sherod? Billions paid to so called Black Farmers,If you grew a Tomato palnt on your window Sill in New York City you could apply for 50 thousand dollars as a Farmer that was discriminated against because you are Black.
Dont believe me? Google Pigford case and see what I am Talking about,and yes the BROTHER in the White House is Responsible for Extending the Program and Yes ALAN WEST the Co called Conservative Hero Voted to Extend it as well
None of my antecedents were in America during the civil war or slavery, so I guess I don’t have a dog in this fight.
But they were in Slovakia, and the Hungarians ruled over them for a thousand years.
When will I get a check for that.
You’d just squander it on a Cadillac and a forty.
His fake (and certainly free) divinity degrees are enough reparations for this slug.
Mr. Chavis, will you with reparations relinquish any future claims of disadvantage?
Will you absolve me, whose great great great (some number of greats) grandfather might have been an New England sea captain and shipper of slaves (or maybe he just ran tea and sugar or fabric and notions)?
Will you absolve me, who has been mocked by blacks, beaten up by blacks?
Will you absolve me who has given up my seat in the bus or subway to a black woman?
Will you absolve me who has failed to land a job because the black man or woman interviewed better?
Will you absolve me who has worked for the black man and black woman in a startup company?
Will you absolve me?
And then the real question - will I accept absolution from you?
If the reparations came in the form of a Constitutional amendment ending all racial quotas, affirmative action and color coded organizations that exclude others races i.e. La Raza and The < insert college name here > Black Student Union then IT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA. A one time payoff and end the madness.
The United States of America already did reparations. Blacks were given a nation in their home continent. It is called Liberia. Is there an advertising campaign that informs Blacks of their right to go to Liberia? Is there a fund that pays their passage to Liberia? Is it a government fund of a private fund? I would really like to know. Are there any conditions on Blacks being able to relocate to Liberia, or are any Blacks welcome there? Anyone know the law on this reparation?
This is pure trash.
When are people going to stand on their own two Feet.
A lot of the black slaves were sold to white slave merchants by Arabs. Arabs are enslaving blacks to this day. Arabs should pay Blacks’ passage to Liberia?
Paid in full. It was called The Civil War.
As long as they’re getting welfare, food stamps, section 8, government cheese, subsidized day care, free cell phones, free laptops, free Internet, WIC, Head Start, free school lunches (and breakfasts and dinners in many cases), gas cards, bus passes, food bank groceries, free holiday gifts, unemployment, tax refunds on money they never made and etc, etc. why should they?
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