The latest development in the anti-racism protests roiling America is talk of reparations for centuries of discrimination and slavery.
Hard on the heels of police reform, police defunding (and complete police disbanding), come calls for financial reparation and restitution. And, while the political and social momentum is in their favour, this makes a lot of sense. Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden has said he is willing to at least study the possibility, which doesn't really mean much in itself, but might guarantee him a few more black votes perhaps.
The post-Civil War promises of "forty acres and a mule" for all freed slaves were never actually realized. But how anyone is going to come up with a figure for reparations for millions of black people, some of whom are the descendants of slaves and some of whom are not, I have no idea. But that's not necessarily a reason not to try.
No comments:
Post a Comment