The Great Reparations Debate

[filial_piety]

they do this because they refuse to even ACKNOWLEDGE what they've done.They've refused to take responsibility since slavery ended. I def agree with the rest of your post, but they must acknowledge FIRST.

U.S. Senate apologizes for slavery
The Senate voted unanimously Thursday for a resolution acknowledging "the fundamental injustice, cruelty, brutality and inhumanity of slavery and Jim Crow laws," which authorized the segregation that followed the Civil War.

If the House passes a similar measure next week, as expected, it would mark the highest official mea culpa for the hundreds of years of discrimination that had been enshrined by the Constitution and courts.

"Slavery and Jim Crow, and their continuing consequences, are not the historical baggage of one state, one region or one company," said Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), the resolution's sponsor. "They are an enduring national shame."

Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush had both expressed remorse for slavery. And Congress has recognized other injustices, such as the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II.

"No one pretends that a mere apology - or any words - can right the wrongs of the past," said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. "But it represents our recognition of that past and our commitment to more fully live up to our nation's promise."

The measure does have one caveat. It says it doesn't imply support for paying reparations.

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/u-s-senate-apologizes-slavery-article-1.375231

 

[brick james]

I'm open to hearing why you yourself deserve reparations....and please atleast try to convey your point without ad hominem attacks and insults...

Thanks in advance.

I deserve reparations because I am a descendant of slaves. As such, my family faced emotional and financial strain dating back over a century and people made money directly at the expense of my family for future generations to come. Since I can't directly sue companies that no longer exist, I think the government should be responsible for the reparations in the same way that they pay to repair chemical spills caused by third parties when those third parties cant afford to pay or simply don't exist anymore. Wealth redistribution made easy, as the welfare system is helping no one

 

[filial_piety]

I deserve reparations because I am a descendant of slaves. As such, my family faced emotional and financial strain dating back over a century and people made money directly at the expense of my family for future generations to come. Since I can't directly sue companies that no longer exist, I think the government should be responsible for the reparations in the same way that they pay to repair chemical spills caused by third parties when those third parties cant afford to pay or simply don't exist anymore. Wealth redistribution made easy, as the welfare system is helping no one

Thanks.

There's a load of questions that I could ask in reference to your individual ancestors...but I'm particularly interested in the underlined.

First, I think one of he many problems with holding the feds responsible is that common knowledge has it, that slavery was not practiced in every state during that era. It was state sanctioned and went through an exhaustive effort by the non-slave holding states to end it. That being said, should every state today be held equally responsible for their contribution to reparations? WHo should contribute to the lions share of the costs which would probably run in the multi-trillions? There were states today that didn't even exist prior to the Civil War. SHould they be held equally accountable? I'm sure this alone would start a pretty hefty debate...

Should the Feds pick up the blame for not ending it earlier? Should the Feds be penalized for not respecting state sovereignty during those times? And if so...should all disenfranchised groups (i.e. women for example) have a case for the Feds not stepping in to legislate the 19th amendment earlier?

And if I recall, there were several corporations identified that were made immensely profitable through slavery in those times....most of which still exist and many of which are major banks and insurance companies....that being said...why not trace your individual ancestors who's slave labor contributed to their profits and then sue them individually? Why not build a case independently, using irrefutable facts in relation to your ancestors?

 

[brick james]

And if I recall, there were several corporations identified that were made immensely profitable through slavery in those times....most of which still exist and many of which are major banks and insurance companies....that being said...why not trace your individual ancestors who's slave labor contribute to their profits and then sue them individually? Why not build a case independently, using irrefutable facts to your ancestors?

I'm going to answer the rest of the questions tomorrow but the honest answer to this one is I really don't want or need the money

 

[DMGAINGREEN]

We definitely deserve reparations but I don't want it though , if were going to prosper as one I rather us do it without the assistance of whites and us formulating a plan to see money accumulate throughout the black community through us .

 

[feelosofer]

If you gave each African American 300,000 dollars that's 12 Trillion dollars that would have to be paid out. It's just logistically impossible. Would it be paid out bit by bit over 3 decades. I mean even that is a lowball offer if you think about it. Honestly speaking we have the means to build our way up but we need to come together and build a definitive agenda and work towards that.

 

[LadySimone]

Nope. Not Ready. We'll give that money straight back by buying shyt we don't need. Maybe once we separate and create infrastructure of our own.

I disagree. It's paternalistic really to say that but I would hate to see it go back to Charlie.

 

[Kripplestyle]

I disagree. It's paternalistic really to say that but I would hate to see it go back to Charlie.

I don't understand what you mean exactly. Can you explain please?

 

[LadySimone]

I don't understand what you mean exactly. Can you explain please?

I love Wee bey! It assumes that black folks don't know how to spend money.

 

[Kripplestyle]

I love Wee bey! It assumes that black folks don't know how to spend money.

I didn't intend to imply that at all. I'm just trying to convey that with the way black people spend their money (outside of the community) the money wouldn't circulate how it should. Maybe if we had an exclusive economic plan and our own businesses we'd be set.

"Money, we make it
Fore we see it you take it" -Marvin Gaye

Sorry for the misunderstanding.

 

[LadySimone]

I didn't intend to imply that at all. I'm just trying to convey that with the way black people spend their money (outside of the community) the money wouldn't circulate how it should. Maybe if we had an exclusive economic plan and our own businesses we'd be set.

"Money, we make it
Fore we see it you take it" -Marvin Gaye

Sorry for the misunderstanding.

Dr Johnson spoke about that. He said we should consider having ownership of non depreciation assets like railways water ways land etc

 

[Kripplestyle]

Dr Johnson spoke about that. He said we should consider having ownership of non depreciation assets like railways water ways land etc

Exactly; And let's be real, the majority of us aren't in the do for self and future thinking mindset.

 

[LadySimone]

Exactly; And let's be real, the majority of us aren't in the do for self and future thinking mindset.

Regrettably. But the thing is most of us don't have to be. Every society has their elite their aristocracy technocrats lump proletariat etc

I think blacks misunderstand society building when we assume everyone has to be Malcolm X.

I'm not averse to an elite class of people in different sectors who shape policy inform educate and produce. I think the focus for the majority of blacks is to be solidly middle class.

 

[Kripplestyle]

Regrettably. But the thing is most of us don't have to be. Every society has their elite their aristocracy technocrats lump proletariat etc

I think blacks misunderstand society building when we assume everyone has to be Malcolm X.

I'm not averse to an elite class of people in different sectors who shape policy inform educate and produce. I think the focus for the majority of blacks is to be solidly middle class.

I'm 100% with you sis. I can't really disagree. I just feel more of us need to be forward thinking, but we do need some Malcolm X's .

 

[KOohbt]

Make it available to view who votes what.