Reparations Struggle Moves Forward At The International Level

The Black World Today ^ | 8/12/2002 | Donna Lamb

[pupdog]

This is important. So far the entire reparations debate has been just that: a debate. This is the first completed step towards actual payments that I've seen so far outside of symbolic but unauthoritative city council votes.

So for those that think that reparations will never happen, keep events like this in mind. It's edging closer to reality every day.

No matter how this turns out, We Won't Pay. I just truly hope that it doesn't have to come to that.

[bloodmeridian]

Tell you what, I'll work for food and you can keep my paycheck. That's where we're heading, it seems: I become the slave and the "repaired" become the masters. That's a nice, equitable situation, I'd say.

[goldstategop]

Its basically a global shakedown to transfer more funds from the wealthier countries to the poorer ones now. As if enough money hasn't be transferred already and been wasted. The message to the proponents should be: they can wait til the world has a last day party before they ever get a dime of my money.

[Texas_Jarhead]

"to meet and begin to make decisions about the means of reparations that would be required to restore the specific groups in the different countries."

What does that even mean?

"Ida Hakim explained, "the force that brought this working group into existence was the reparations movement, so I'm confident that this working group will deal with the subject of restoration and reparations. Our hope is that it will continue the movement already underway at the UN to unite the descendants of enslaved Africans as one people, from Canada to Chile, to the Islands and across the slavery Diaspora."

Sounds like land might be at the top of the race pimps shopping wish list.

[LiteKeeper]

Can you spell "E-X-T-O-R-T-I-O-N" - now at the Global level.

[mhking]

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[Eric in the Ozarks]

Jessie Jackson's middle name.

[APBaer]

"to unite the descendants of enslaved Africans as one people"

Oh, do you mean you want them all shipped back?

[pupdog]

>>"to meet and begin to make decisions about the means of reparations that would be required to restore the specific groups in the different countries."
>What does that even mean?

Hard to say, since a lot of the reparations debate is a hall of mirrors. However, proponents like to talk about how their "culture was stolen," so one would presume that they're talking about some way to "reverse the damage," as if a paycheck had the power of to turn back the clock.

But yeah, I was wondering the same thing myself.

[Texas_Jarhead]

Anyone happen to look at that webiste ReparationstheCURE.org?

Check it out. CURE - Caucasians United for Reparations and Emancipation. WHere do I sign up?

[goldstategop]

Don't sign up. They're guilty white liberals who want to play suckers with THEIR money. That's perfectly fine --- as long as they leave me and mine alone.

[billbears]

Hearing this, one couldn't help but think of how frequent it is for white folk to make an accusation that something "divisive" is taking place whenever people of color stand up for their rights.

Seeing this, one can't help but think how there is an apparent double standard applied to 'white folk' and anyone of another race. It's about as derogatory as 'you people'. I never could stand to hear someone talk about another person's race that way. White folk? What pray, are 'white folk'? I'm not white!! I'm Scotch-Irish-Cherokee

And what are we supposed to do about the Africans who sold their enemies into slavery? Is the whole continent of Africa supposed to pay itself back? I can see the IMF trying to pawn that off on the industrialized nations one day. "You see these nations need a loan to pay themselves for reparations against themselves". And what's worse is that someone somewhere is going to okay it as a'nation building proposal'

[Texas_Jarhead]

"Oh, do you mean you want them all shipped back?"

Not I. That's what the article states. I'm asking what it means.

[Texas_Jarhead]

That sign me up crack was sarcasm.

[speak]

You know, I might be wrong, but weren't other races from other nationalities forced into slavery or worse through out history? Just checking...

[marron]

Who decides who is Black? If we all claim to be Black, who pays who? Do we establish a board, to rule on who can be legally considered Black?

Since the lion's share of Africans were shipped to Cuba, and Brasil, and Haiti, do they expect to receive payment from them?

If the purpose of reparations is to right old wrongs, are the West African nations who enslaved them, and sold them, supposed to accept them back as citizens? Are Black citizens prepared to accept West African citizenship as part of a reparations package?

Since it was the British Navy, and the US Navy, and the US Army that ended the Atlantic slave trade, must modern-day Blacks refund part of their reparations payments back to the US and British treasury, to help pay defray cost of their liberation?

[ohioman]

Well...just about all white folks had a few ancestors enslaved by the Romans.... Where's my money :)

[Allrightnow]

"Anyone happen to look at that webiste ReparationstheCURE.org ?

Wow. This just goes to prove that there is no such thing as a cause too ridiculous to champion. It's not bad enough that half the free world is already suing one another but now we are responsible for our Great Great Grandfather's actions (although it was legal at the time). It's like a Punch and Judy version of Dickens's Bleak House.