Slavery Reparations and 2020

[Dill]

(04-11-2019, 09:33 AM)Belsnickel Wrote: You race some good questions with this post, but I do have a counter argument to some of them. The issue of whether an African American has slave ancestors isn't entirely relevant to the overall purpose of reparations as it tends to be discusses. The idea of reparations is more about trying to make up for the racial disparity that exists in our socioeconomic system that is due in large part to slavery and the discrimination that followed. Black Americans that lack slave ancestry still suffer from the effects of this systemic racism that causes this socioeconomic disparity in our country.

I think this is one of the issues with the argument for reparations as a whole. When it is brought up, it is seen as redistribution because of slavery alone, which isn't the case. Slavery was a big part, yes, but by focusing on that it opens the door for those that say "I never owned slaves, so why should I have to pay them?" or it allows for the question of what to do about African Americans that don't have slave ancestors. When you look at it overall, talk about slavery, Jim Crow, the continued issues with socioeconomic inequality, etc., and discuss how the discrimination and oppression that has occurred since the end of slavery has kept the black community down and prevented them from being afforded the same opportunities as white people, which also means that white people have benefited from that oppression whether or not they were active in it, then it becomes a different conversation. Still one that will receive push back from those that are unwilling to see this point of view, but one that is harder to dismiss as easily by saying "my ancestors didn't own slaves, why should I pay!?"

Important point here.  White Americans and their economy all benefited from slavery, whether they were for it or not.

Also, in most states until 1964 whites benefited from greater access to higher ed--reverse affirmative action.  Doubtful that any white students during this period saw any connection between their enlarged access to this resource and the race issue.

Georgetown U is moving in an interesting direction, taking direct responsibility for once owning and selling 272 slaves. And the students are down with it.  https://www.cnbc.com/2019/04/12/georgetown-votes-to-raise-tuition-by-27-to-pay-for-reparations.html