Posted on 06/23/2002 1:41:09 PM PDT by Valin
A lot of white people are upset with the reparations movement.
The reparations movement is an effort by people of African descent to be remunerated, compensated or indemnified for labor that our ancestors performed for white land- and business owners during the period of slavery in America.
Let us not deceive ourselves. Nothing the government or the people of America now possess, or are even willing to share, will come close to making up for the enormity of the moral, psychological, physical, cultural, economic and spiritual degradation that has been foisted on its black citizens.
Here is an attempt to begin to address one of America's most divisive issues ever.
Nobody disputes that people of African descent were held and used as slave labor. Some may differ as to the extent to which physical, mental and spiritual atrocities were visited upon our African ancestors.
Others would like to forget or feign disbelief as to the intensity, continuity and depth of the brutality imposed on my forefathers and mothers. And which extends to us today.
Still others will attempt to simplify the experience by saying: "That was then; this is now. Get over it! We, this generation, had nothing to do with it. Why should we bear the burden? In fact, I'm against slavery too." Others may chime in: "Besides, you've got affirmative action now. This amounts to reverse discrimination."
And most will totally reject the notion that America or Americans owe those who labored in bondage for two-and-a-half centuries.
Slaves were allegedly "freed" via the Emancipation Proclamation on Jan. 1, 1863, which declared free all persons held as slaves within any state or part of a state then in armed rebellion.
But Randall Robinson, in his brilliant treatise "The Debt," brought light to the subject: "No nation can enslave a race of people for hundreds of years, set them free bedraggled and penniless, pit them without assistance in a hostile environment against privileged victimizers and then reasonably expect the gap between the heirs of the two groups to narrow."
"Privileged victimizers" — an interesting use of words. Some Euro-American would say, "I'm not among the 'privileged' and certainly not a 'victimizer.' "
This brings us to the role that today's American whites play in daily increasing, extending and exacerbating "the debt." It is certainly true that most white people are, to some extent, disenfranchised themselves. Yet, it is also true that their white skin gives them advantage over the nation's darker-skinned citizens, as both seek the benefits of the richest, most powerful nation on earth.
White privilege simply assures two similarly situated people — one white, one black — that the white person will be given preferential treatment.
Yes, affirmative action was designed as an attempt to narrow the remaining gap in access to resources, opportunities and prosperity this nation has to offer.
Yes, some Euro-Americans will say that they were passed over so a person of African heritage could be promoted or hired. While there may be some cases to corroborate this experience, such is a very exceptional encounter.
Indeed, the quest for reparations can stand on its own merit. But, for those who need precedent, remember that after World War I, American allies made successful claims against Germany, as would Jews after World War II.
Japanese Americans re-covered from the U.S. government for acts against them during World War II.
Due to the forcing of Korean women into prostitution, they were compensated by Japan following World War II.
Historical and legal expert Dudley Thompson informs us that international law has many precedents in this area.
Some initial easy steps to solutions could include a national and state effort to:
(1) learn more about reparations and the conditions by which their necessity came about;
(2) look closely at today's conditions that cause continuation of these deplorable circumstances;
(3) develop a plan that would set up endowments, scholarships and other incentives for increased positive black involvement in American life; and
(4) enact laws that are effective and enforceable that would eliminate all acts of discrimination.
These are just a few ideas for a beginning toward full reparations.
McDonald, 70, of St. Paul, is one of eight Pioneer Press Community Columnists for 2002.
E-mail him at kmcdonald@ spokesman-recorder.com.
Does that mean that Black opposition to slavery is predictable but unjustified?
After all that has happened both on the black and white sides .....Blacks are still slaves in their own minds. and ....Whites[ ALL RACES THROUGH REPERATIONS ] will never be slave owners and yet will still get the bill and blame
Someone told me once there is no such thing as reverse racism i think they were either drunk or stupid maybe both !
At the same time, the Democratic nominee will have a difficult time categorically rejecting the idea, either, as it would cost him heavily with blacks. The Democratic candidate will undoubtedly wish that the topic not be approached.
Bush must not allow that wish to become true. He must push the nominee for an answer. He must be brutal. He must demand an answer on national TV during a debate.
It will be 20 more years before the Cultural Marxists in education and the media will have successfully prepared America for reparations- the time to exploit this issue is now.
Kwame has not proved the necessity of anything. Most blacks thrive and prosper today, as do most whites, orientals, hispanics, etc. What necessity?
(2) look closely at today's conditions that cause continuation of these deplorable circumstances;
The 'delorable circumstance' that Kwame is not getting any guilt money yet? Slavery? (Ended 1865) Jim Crow? (Faded out sometime in the late 60's) For the ambitious, black skin is a positive advantage today in America!
(3) develop a plan that would set up endowments, scholarships and other incentives for increased positive black involvement in American life;
We already have all of these today!
(4) enact laws that are effective and enforceable that would eliminate all acts of discrimination.
No law can possibly eliminate 'all forms' of discrimination, but the laws we have comprise the best legal protection against racial discrimination that has ever existed anywhere, anytime. And the proof of that is the lack of black immigration to Africa or other parts of the world, and the continuing flow of immigrants from all parts of the third world to our shores.
These are just a few ideas for a beginning toward full reparations.
He says 'full reparations', but stated earlier that no amount of money could possibly make up for all the brutality, etc. So what he means is 'unending payments', because the next generation and the next after that will demand their 'fair share' too. There is simply no legal or historical precedent for this sort of guilt claim by one racial group on another. Besides, any money for reparations would be paid by ALL Americans -- white, black, hispanic, recent immigrants, etc. Their case will fall apart in court, if it ever gets that far.
ROTFLMAO!
A democRAT would be screwed either way he turns though. This could be very interesting.
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