African-Americans take their case for reparations to the steps of City Hall (Houston)

Channel 11 News Houston ^ | 7/30/02 | Wendell Edwards

[GOPcapitalist]

HOUSTON (KHOU) -- Slavery was outlawed in America 137 years ago. But some African-Americans now want monetary compensation for years of slavery endured by their ancestors. A united group asked the Houston City Council for support.

They carried signs, waved flags and chanted loudly, "We are not here asking for anything," the group said. "We are demanding reparations."

This group of descendants of slaves is fighting for compensation that they say their ancestors never got.

"We are a people that have lost our culture," said activist Quannell X. "We have lost our religion. We have lost our mores and forays. We are a people that have been robbed."

"Reparations now" is their battle cry. It was aimed at the Houston City Council. They were asking members for their help, and reminded them symbolically just why they should. "Mothers and fathers, men and women, children hung from these ropes," said Quannell X. "How could you not support reparations?"

Mayor Lee Brown said that a resolution might be in order. "And that's what it's all about," he said. "To look at the issue and then come up with some determination as to what this country should do in respect to slavery."

But councilman Bruce Tatro disagreed. "I just believe it's inappropriate for the city to be weighing in on," he said. "A vote by the city means we support the entire reparations."

For the next generation it's a lesson for future legacies. African historian Alafia Gaidi explained, "There's a reason why millions of Africans who've come to this country before us was never able to leave any kind of inheritance for their children, they were never paid."

This local push is part of a national effort to support a Slave Reparations Bill recently introduced in Congress. Thousands plan to march on Washington on August 17 to lobby for the bill's passage.

[BJClinton]

Huggy Bear? Seriously, I'm now Huggy Bear. How's that gonna look on a tombstone?

[APBaer]

"There's a reason why millions of Africans who've come to this country before us was never able to leave any kind of inheritance for their children, they were never paid."

Yes, Ripple and Night Train?

[Arleigh]

This local push is part of a national effort to support a Slave Reparations Bill recently introduced in Congress. Thousands plan to march on Washington on August 17 to lobby for the bill's passage.

And watch Karl Rove and Jorge Bush support something like it in 2004 to get black votes. They'll call it something like "The Marshal Plan for Black America" and it will involve paying BILLIONS for reparations in the form of grants to historically black universities, small business loans, urban employment and training programs, subsidized home mortgages, and - of course - big bucks for Jesse and Al and Kwase and all the other black "leadership."

[Chad Fairbanks]

I got the name "Shaft"...

:0)

[Lazamataz]

They carried signs, waved flags and chanted loudly, "We are not here asking for anything," the group said. "We are demanding.....

.......that the white landowners get off their farms. We Zimbabweans have been oppressed too long!!!"

Everything old is new again.

[Arleigh]

There's a reason why millions of Africans who've come to this country before us was never able to leave any kind of inheritance for their children...

Of course, when trying to collect one's inheritance, it also helps to know who one's daddy was.

[The Duke]

I read a claim the other day that whites were also slaves here in the America - so I'm thinking that I'm entitled
too!

[Lazamataz]

LOL! Cold, brother.

[Ditter]

You said I could be Pootie Tang this time. WWWAAAAAAAA!

[wardaddy]

Hope you guys can get rid of this nut in the future.

[Vidalia]

Wasn't that from Starsky and Hutch?

[Howlin]

We have lost our religion. We have lost our mores and forays.

What WAS the official religion of Africa when the left?

And what mores and forays (forays?????) did they lose?

[Ditter]

I know how these folks feel, my ancestors worked themselves to death & I didn't inherit anything from them either. Darn it!

[Diddle E. Squat]

Now THAT is funny!

[Moose4]

Word. I'm now "Shaft".

That means I'm a bad mutha...(shut yo' mouf!)

Lee Brown is...ugh. Words can't describe. I have a friend in Houston I regularly correspond with, and she waxes long and loud about him, none of it good.

}:-)4

[BJClinton]

Wasn't that from Starsky and Hutch?

Isn't that a TV show? I've never seen it.

[hellinahandcart]

Pleased to meet you. My new name is Malcom J. And I'm not a guy. That's what I got when I typed in my real, FEMALE name.

When I typed in "hellinahandcart" I was renamed Shausha.

[Vidalia]

Yes, along with the likes of Mod Squad, Charlie's Angels and BJ and the Bear...

You missed nothing, they're not even worth watching on cable outlets, if you can even find them.

[Ditter]

I was going to make a suggestion but it sounded too racist, so I will sit down & shut up. ;9+