Hear my thoughts on an article on reparations for slavery.
I was surprised to read about reparations and ending the Slavery Blame-Game in an Op-ed piece today by HenryLouis Gates, Jr. I was surprised because I didn’t know the idea of reparations was still being actively discussed and because I hadn’t realized that, as seems implied by the controversy of this piece, slavery is still on a lot of people’s minds.
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{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Really tough one here. The problem with the discussion of reparations in general is that it requires that you put someone into a group based on their race – and only their race. Not only that, but like you said, who pays? Governments don’t have money. People have money. So the money is essentially coming from anyone – regardless of their race – who pays taxes.
People who ask for reparations assume that everyone in their race is with them on that idea, and people who directly oppose it do a bad job of explaining why.
Good segment. Tough topic to talk about, and nice way to lighten it up at the end. You are brave! lol
That’s a really excellent point, Tia,
How do you put people into set groups based on race? I might even take it a bold (probably unwise) step further. I’d venture to say that some of the descendants of American slaves are not 100% of that race. What if there is, dare I suggest, some percentage of slave owner in their lineage, or even just plane, ordinary white folk in there. Would they get, say, 7/8 of a reparations payment?
It’s a ridiculous bit of rationalizing and, in its own right, kind of reminiscent to some pretty racist practices of old (what was it that a black person’s vote counted as back in the day? 2/5 of a person? Truly ridiculous).
And thanks for the positive note on taking it silly at the end. I suppose it’s my way of saying, let’s move on to some more practical solutions. Granted, the method was pretty silly.