Posted on 06/19/2019 5:43:42 PM PDT by yesthatjallen
Calling the idea of reparations for slavery a “sham,” members of the Project 21 black leadership network say black Americans who take advantage of opportunities already available to all Americans can still achieve the American Dream. They also say an upcoming congressional hearing on reparations is a crass political move to shore up black support and will only hurt race relations.
“Slavery ended more than 150 years ago. It doesn’t make sense to force people who didn’t own slaves to pay people who never were slaves. This reparations hearing is just another way to sow division and animosity among the races. Like Confederate statues, pandering to the black community with promises of free money is a big political diversion,” said Project 21 member Donna Jackson. “The best reparations for slavery is freedom – especially a free-market economy. Our goal should be to continue to build on the accomplishments of the Trump Administration that include record-low unemployment, opportunities for entrepreneurship and deregulation.”
On June 19, the U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties will hold a hearing on H.R. 40, a bill to “establish a commission to study and consider a national apology and proposal for reparations for the institution of slavery, its subsequent de jure and de facto racial and economic discrimination against African-Americans and the impact of these forces on living African-Americans.” It will feature testimony from reparations proponents such as author Ta-Nehisi Coates and actor Danny Glover. The bill was introduced by Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX), and has companion legislation in the Senate introduced by Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ).
“Reparations is a sham. This so-called study is solely presented as a means of checking a box called locking up black support,” said Project 21 Co-Chairman Horace Cooper. “There will not be a payment. And, by falling for this sham, Congress has made it clear that there will be no meaningful requirement that policies beneficial to blacks will ever come from this House of Representatives.”
The hearing is scheduled on “Juneteenth,” an annual observance of the end of slavery in America. Contrary to the apparent political use of the day for the hearing, Project 21 members have long commemorated Juneteenth with calls for black self-improvement and for taking advantage of opportunities for advancement that are available to all citizens regardless of race and class.
“Why are blacks seeking reparations in the 21th century when slavery was ended by the Civil War over 150 years ago? Why are Congress and others all of a sudden getting in on the act? Congress should be reminding blacks that opportunities do exist for them and have existed for generations,” said Project 21 member Emery McClendon. “It’s up to individuals to discover these opportunities to succeed. Let’s flip the script from reparations to personal responsibility. The latter will bring about lasting results.”
Rep. Jackson Lee, in promoting the hearing, said: “While we have focused on the social effects of slavery and segregation, its continuing economic implications remain largely ignored by mainstream analysis. These economic issues are the root cause of many critical issues in the African-American community today, such as education, health care and criminal justice policy, including policing practices.” Project 21 recently compiled 57 policy recommendations addressing all of these issues and more in a free-market, budget-neutral manner in its “Blueprint for a Better Deal for Black America.”
“Our country was built on slavery, but those who deserve reparations unfortunately passed away a long time ago. And the wealth disparity that resulted from slavery in the United States is as strong today as it ever was – along with racial inequality and injustice in education, employment, incarceration and housing,” noted Project 21 member Derrick Hollie. “These issues, however, cannot be resolved in form of a check. Instead we need to make sure our lawmakers continue to put forth policies that will have a positive impact on descendants of slaves. They must also be wise enough not to promote policies like the ‘Green New Deal’ that similarly push false hope.”
To schedule an interview with a member of Project 21, contact Judy Kent at (703) 759-0269.
Project 21, a leading voice of black conservatives for over 25 years, is sponsored by the National Center for Public Policy Research. Its members have been quoted, interviewed or published over 40,000 times since the program was created in 1992. Contributions to the National Center are tax-deductible and greatly appreciated, and may be earmarked exclusively for the use of Project 21.
Walk Away.
Trump is the real deal. His policies help everyone. The Democrat politicians only want to help themselves. See what is before you.
Dems just want to give blacks free money so they come to the polls and vote Democrat thats all this is about..here, take some free cash now vote for us
AMEN !
A few days ago, I was wondering what happened to 40 acres and a mule. Turns out that Andrew Johnson, DEMOCRAT, vetoed it. I don’t remember ever learning that. I really thought slaves were already given 40 acres and a mule.
Democrats have been a pimple on the rear end of this country for a loooooong time.
If the dumb as fenceposts American people are for Biden,Bernie,Mayor Pete and so on against President Trump,
and now hate reparations by 60%,
then we have to link this and say in ads:
If you love reparations payments then you’ll love voting Dem.
I am getting more and more impatient with the majority who make up the stupid American people. Still love FR people and 62,979,636 who voted for Trump.
Cannot blame them... There was no mention of a Mercedes Maybach (for wife or girl friend or bastard’s mother) and a BMW (for husband or suspected father)...As yet...
Reparations are not happening.
Not....Happening.
Has anyone told the Democrats this is unconstitutional? You cannot grant government benefits based on descent. Rice v. Cayetano.
I use the direct approch.
"I never owned slaves and the only cotton you ever picked was a set of towels at Walmart."
.
We have come so far. The ex slave Frederick Douglass could not sleep well, until he sent money and PAID the Master for the price he was bought at the slave auction. THEN he got his Bill of MANUMISSION, and felt he was a FREE man. He paid for his own redemption. So much different than today.
I should get reparations for not being able to walk Detroit streets without the fear of being murdered after 5pm.
Went through that one (Rice v. Cayetano) really fast but just wow.
That is a LONG road to get down.
But you are correct, that is, in the end, exactly what that case indicates.
.
If these people think they can take reparations out of my hide they’re nuts. AIN’T gonna happen!
There were white slaves at that same time, working along side of the blacks and there were the black slave owners and the black slave sellers at auctions.
It is unconstitutional, as you say. But they will get commission to review the whole thing. There will be four key problems:
1. Some blacks will be noted as being descendants that came into the US after 1865 (coming out of the Caribbean Island and South America). It’s probably less than 2-percent, but they won’t be eligible for this ‘deal’.
2. The amount will be questioned. Some will suggest $100,000, and some will suggest $10,000.
3. Some will suggest that you simply pay out the sum, agree to this quickly....then trim and cut all slum-support funding from that day on. Logically, everyone is even from that day on and you won’t support any inner-city programs.
4. Finally, you come to the American Indian problem. Shouldn’t they get reparations, and ahead of the blacks?
You are correct. Free blacks owned black slaves as well as Cherokee indians. What about the Chinese who worked on the railroads? The fact is that most whites are descended from immigrants who came here after slavery was abolished. So all this talk about reparations is actually racism in spades.
They are correct. All this is is kabuki theater for the base. They know it will never pass the Senate. This is Virtue Signalling on the World Stage, just for show.....................
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