Actor Terrence Howard reportedly said it is “immoral for the United States government to charge taxes to descendants of slaves”; he then expressed that for hundreds of years there was forced labor and no compensation for it. His comments resparked discussion for reparations across the country on Instagram’s The Shade Room, a social media platform used to broadcast news and other entertainment related information. While there has been progression when it comes to equality, there are major drawbacks for African Americans due to the long lasting effects of slavery. With this African Americans should get reparations for the injustices that still impact them. With its many forms, such as education and job opportunities, home ownership opportunities, and other incentives, reparations can be used to right the wrongs.
The history of education for African Americans in the United States has been marked by significant challenges, discrimination, and inequality. After the Civil War, it was illegal to teach enslaved people to read and write, and after emancipation, African Americans often faced limited access to education due to segregation, underfunding, and discriminatory policies. Because of this people affected by slavery can have advantages in society from reparation. There is a need for more and better opportunities for African Americans and by giving them their needs of social programs, it would be the form of reparation.
Kiana Cox and Khadijah Edwards, both researchers at Pew Research Center, in their study, “Black Americans have a Clear Vision for Reducing Racism but Little Hope it will Happen” published by Pew Research Center on August 30, 2022, address the topic of Black Americans views on reparations for historical slavery. Cox and Edwards argue that in the Black community, there are many opinions regarding the necessity and forms of reparations. They support this claim by analyzing survey data gathered by Pew Research Center, showing the different viewpoints by Black Americans on the issue of reparations. Cox and Edwards goes over many factors such as historical awareness and socioeconomic status, demonstrating their impact on people’s attitudes. They also explore various proposed forms of reparations, including financial compensation and investments in education and community development. Cox and Edwards’ purpose is to have an informed dialogue on reparations. With an objective tone, directed to people in racial justice, Cox and Edwards provided a thorough explanation and research on reparations.
In their article “Why We Need Reparations for Black Americans,” by Dr. Rashawn Ray and Andre M. Perry, published on July 26, 2022 by Brookings Institution, they discuss the necessity for reparations to right the wrongs the history of racial injustice that Black Americans have faced. They back up this claim with historical data showing consistent discrimination’s long-lasting impacts on Black communities, including differences in income, lack of educational opportunities, and criminal justice results. They believe that in order to right these wrongs and build true equality, reparations are needed. The goal is to draw attention to the ongoing effects of past injustices in order to call for reparations and get the pay for the negative effects caused by the inequality in history. They provide the case for reparations in a way that is both informative and appealing to readers who are interested in learning more about social injustices.
African-American should be paid reparations for slavery, because slavery was a violation of human rights, and persisted in economic and social inequalities. However, this idea is very controversial because of who disagrees and who agrees. According to PEW 77% black American said yes to reparations, we can conclude that there is a need for something in the black community. However, many Americans disagree with reparations according to the PEW research center 68% of US adults said no to reparations and 30% said yes the survey shows how reparations are not popular among many Americans. These surveys showed that although many may disagree many black Americans want a form of reparation, especially if we look at the time these individuals took the survey. This survey was conducted during October 4-17 of 2021 at this time COVID-19 was affecting many people’s income and it was after the Black Lives Matter protest with this context that 77% of blacks who voted yes for reparations.
If we dive deeper into this, the Black Lives Matter protest was a pillar in identifying that there is a need in the black community which is reparations. The protest allowed us all to see that there are significant injustices. George Floyed, a black man that was murdered by white police enforcements was one of the factors that allowed us to see that there are still drawbacks in our society. I believe reparations are needed because there are still lasting effects in today’s world.
https://www.nytimes.com/video/us/100000007159353/george-floyd-arrest-death-video.html
Reparations should be given to African-American still dealing with racial inequalities that persist to this day. Because of slavery African-Americans today still have to struggle with discrimination and unfair opportunities towards them so they should be gaining such benefits of reparations to help them move forward and solve the needs that they have in their communities. Reparations come in many forms. Many view reparations as money being given to individuals like African-Americans through checks, cash, or a piece of land as a debt being paid forward. However, there are money forms of reparations which can be through social programs such as
education opportunities, job opportunities, and more. Social programs, which include opportunities and benefits, for African-Americans are the best way to repay African-Americans for the hard-working labor that their ancestors have done for our history and for the discrimination that they still face today. According to Rashawn Ray and AndreM Perry, in their article “Why we need reparations for African Americans” published by Bookings, identify many forms of reparations, “if we want to close the racial wealth gap and live up to our moral creed to protect ‘life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness,’ a federal reparations package for Black Americans is in order. This package should include individual and collective public benefits that simultaneously builds wealth and eliminates debt among Black citizens”(Perry and Ray). Social programs like more education opportunities and how to earn a home will help the African American community exponentially. Throughout history people of color suffered from disadvantages like redlining which was a discriminatory practice in which banks, insurance companies, and other institutions refuse or limit loans, mortgages, and insurance coverage to people based on their race, ethnicity, or neighborhood. Redlining has been illegal since the Fair Housing Act of 1968, but it continues to affect many communities today. Redlining contributed to the reasons why some African Americas could not buy homes, could increase their wealth or get a better education.
The NAACP, a civil rights organization, addresses the issue of reparations for Black Americans.They draw attention to the effects of slavery, which was accepted in the US for almost 250 years, as well as its role in contributing to the development of the US economy. They also highlight the effects of redlining and other discriminatory strategies, including Jim Crow segregation laws, which increased the racial wealth gap and restricted Black Americans’ chances for economic progress. They argue that these issues that have disadvantaged Black Americans for generations are at the basis of these disparities in society. As we look at what African Americans went through especially with the redlining period we can see that they have never been able to be financially stable to purchase a home or even have the ability to have financial freedom.
In their article, “The Idea of Reparations for Slavery is Morally Appealing but Flawed,” published by The Economist on June 29, 2019, examines the idea of reparations for slavery in the United States, arguing that while there are some benefits to reparations , the idea is flawed with many loose ends .They provide evidence for this claim by detailing the difficulties and moral decisions related to reparations, such as figuring out who should pay for it , who should get compensation from it , and how much reparation is reasonable. They also go over the possible drawbacks of reparations, including the possibility of racial tension such as segregation between those who are getting reparations and those not or a distraction of focus from more practical measures for addressing inequality. The goal is to get people thinking and questioning reparations because there are a lot of obstacles in the way of their accomplishment but there are also benefits. The idea of reparations is discussed and encouraged in a skeptical manner.
Although reparations is a controversial topic, that doesn’t mean it should not be discussed with possible solutions. If we keep thinking that the idea of reparations is flawed, how will we move forward? It is obvious that giving incentives of payments could cause backlash but there are many forms of reparations. Other types include the restitution of civil and political rights; physical rehabilitation; and granting access to land, housing, health care, or education. Reparations can also take the form of revealing the truth about the violations themselves and providing guarantees that they will not be repeated. Symbolic reparations—such as apologies, memorials, and commemorations—are other important reparative measures that can be more meaningful when conferred alongside material reparations. (“Reparations 2”). Reparations could be anything that helps those who were wronged live a better life that they couldn’t from previous effects.
The call for reparations for African Americans in the United States is not only a matter of moral imperative but also one of societal equity and justice. Terrence Howard’s recent remarks, echoing sentiments of many, underscore the enduring impact of slavery on the African American community and the urgent need for redress. From the historical injustices of denied education to the contemporary disparities in wealth and opportunity, the legacy of slavery continues to cast a long shadow over the lives of African Americans. Reparations, in various forms such as educational and job opportunities, housing incentives, and social programs, offer a tangible pathway towards addressing these entrenched disparities and fostering true equality. It is not merely a matter of compensating for past wrongs, but of rectifying present injustices and building a more just and inclusive society for all. So, the longing question is, Don’t African Americans, descendants of slaves deserve reparations?
Work Cited Page
(Cox and Edwards)
Cox, Kiana, and Khadijah Edwards. “3. Reparations for Slavery.” Pew Research Center, 30 Aug. 2022, https://www.pewresearch.org/race-ethnicity/2022/08/30/black-americans-views-on-reparations-for-slavery/.
(Perry and Ray)
Perry, Andre M., and Rashawn Ray. “Why We Need Reparations for Black Americans.” Brookings, 15 Apr. 2020, https://www.brookings.edu/articles/why-we-need-reparations-for-black-americans/.
(“Reparations1”)
“Reparations.” NAACP, 1 Jan. 2019, https://naacp.org/resources/reparations.
(The)
The. “The Idea of Reparations for Slavery Is Morally Appealing but Flawed.” Economist (London, England: 1843), The Economist, 29 June 2019, https://www.economist.com/united-states/2019/06/29/the-idea-of-reparations-for-slavery-is-morally-appealing-but-flawed?utm_medium=cpc.adword.pd&utm_source=google&ppccampaignID=17210591673&ppcadID=&utm_campaign=a.22brand_pmax&utm_content=conversion.direct-response.anonymous&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwh4-wBhB3EiwAeJsppH0D8ksBk_VTt1KctWmPU2GFt-37SPds5Wggv9hCL3jvKt7Q_ygV_BoCCIQQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds.
(“Reparations2”)
“—.” Ictj.org, https://www.ictj.org/reparations. Accessed 1 May 2024.
