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FuglyStick · 05-05-2009, 05:20 PM

This thread could go in Philosophy or even General Discussion, so I leave it to a mod to move it if they see fit.

Normally on a message board, I wouldn't touch this issue with a 10 foot pole, but TFP has proven to be more civil and rational than other boards, so I will go ahead and broach the subject. A search revealed topics that touched upon the subject of reparations, but none that addressed it specifically.

For those that may need a definition of what reparations entail (although I'm sure that most TFPers already know), you can check out the Wikipedia entry here.

For the purposes of this thread, let's discuss the merit of reparations in and of itself, and not the implausibility of reparations given the current economic conditions.

It appears to me that the question of reparations comes down to this--are African Americans today owed financial compensation for atrocities committed generations before they were born? A person could easily conclude that the woes of the African American community, as a demographic, can be traced to the grudging, piecemeal compensation that has been doled out since emancipation; another person could conclude that most African Americans would not be Americans at all without slavery in the first place, and that they would be no better off if their forefathers had not been admittedly forced to become "Americans" via slavery (I'm playing devil's advocate here to make a point, folks).

Reparations by the American government are not without precedent. Japanese Americans have received reparations as a result of internment in detention camps during World War II, and Native Americans have been receiving reparations for land ceded to the US (not to mention European genocide of Native Americans); in addition, Native Americans are granted gaming privileges by the federal government, a very profitable source of income.

So, what does that mean in regards to reparations for the descendants of slavery? It's a difficult question. I have no problem conceding that the country was built in large part on slavery, and that the country owes it's rapid ascension to it's position as the most powerful nation in the world to slavery, and by extension, the slaves themselves. I can't, however, see a lump sum payment to the descendants of slavery being the answer to the problems that plague the African American community. Not only would the damage to race relations be unfathomable, but money without any real change in opportunities for African Americans is money that is gone in a generation with no lasting benefits. Or am I wrong? Can the problems of the African American community--drug use, crime, high unemployment rates--be remedied with an influx of wealth (I'm not saying these problems are exclusive to the African American community, only that, statistically, they are disproportionately high)?

I look forward to hearing your opinions.

05-05-2009, 05:20 PM	#1 (permalink)
FuglyStick WHEEEE! Whee! Whee! WHEEEE! Location: Southern Illinois	Reparations This thread could go in Philosophy or even General Discussion, so I leave it to a mod to move it if they see fit. Normally on a message board, I wouldn't touch this issue with a 10 foot pole, but TFP has proven to be more civil and rational than other boards, so I will go ahead and broach the subject. A search revealed topics that touched upon the subject of reparations, but none that addressed it specifically. For those that may need a definition of what reparations entail (although I'm sure that most TFPers already know), you can check out the Wikipedia entry here. For the purposes of this thread, let's discuss the merit of reparations in and of itself, and not the implausibility of reparations given the current economic conditions. It appears to me that the question of reparations comes down to this--are African Americans today owed financial compensation for atrocities committed generations before they were born? A person could easily conclude that the woes of the African American community, as a demographic, can be traced to the grudging, piecemeal compensation that has been doled out since emancipation; another person could conclude that most African Americans would not be Americans at all without slavery in the first place, and that they would be no better off if their forefathers had not been admittedly forced to become "Americans" via slavery (I'm playing devil's advocate here to make a point, folks). Reparations by the American government are not without precedent. Japanese Americans have received reparations as a result of internment in detention camps during World War II, and Native Americans have been receiving reparations for land ceded to the US (not to mention European genocide of Native Americans); in addition, Native Americans are granted gaming privileges by the federal government, a very profitable source of income. So, what does that mean in regards to reparations for the descendants of slavery? It's a difficult question. I have no problem conceding that the country was built in large part on slavery, and that the country owes it's rapid ascension to it's position as the most powerful nation in the world to slavery, and by extension, the slaves themselves. I can't, however, see a lump sum payment to the descendants of slavery being the answer to the problems that plague the African American community. Not only would the damage to race relations be unfathomable, but money without any real change in opportunities for African Americans is money that is gone in a generation with no lasting benefits. Or am I wrong? Can the problems of the African American community--drug use, crime, high unemployment rates--be remedied with an influx of wealth (I'm not saying these problems are exclusive to the African American community, only that, statistically, they are disproportionately high)? I look forward to hearing your opinions. __________________ AZIZ! LIGHT!