High ranking black leaders and scholars have been debating on the issue of reparations to the members of their race as well as the government out of revenues from the tax. They have discussed to greater length of some words such as libertarianism when analysing the issue of reparations. Libertarianism is conceptualised as a philosophy of politics which has in its care private property rights. The axiom of libertarianism means an invasion of property or person physically are unfair, and punishment should be the remedy.
The idea of reparations due to the crime committed to African Americans in modern times has become radical for a political cause. Scholars have debated on which principle to be applied and the specific person who has the right to reparations and the manner of reparations. Should nations in central Asian request compensation from Mongolia due to Genghis Khan Actions? Or whether the invaders of American Indian continent should return back to where they come from? In this background, should the black African American be recompensed as a result of crimes which were done against their people in the past?
A scholar for the Atlantic, Ta-Nehisi Coates, contends that the understanding of reparations must have a vital place in the topic concerning race in U.S. Ta-Nehisi is not necessarily arguing that every African America is given some kind of money from taxpayers account. In practical terms, the possibility of coming up with a certain sum of money as compensation so as to pay as a result of too many decades of enslavement and torture is impossible. In Coates argument, reparations are not what is crucial, but the nation should start to question its self of what was done to the black population during the white supremacy era. This kind of discussion will not lead to compensation, but it’s a topic worth talking about. Coates says that majority of Americans are not familiar with the nation past history and the importance it played when the blacks were oppressed by the white supremacy in making the nation as great as it is today.
In the global stage, the United States is at a high level by merit of its success together with its democratic standards. According to Coates, the virtues originated at the times of slavery. During the seven cotton states, a third of every white income was gotten through slaves. Slave labor produced 59 percent of America export by the year 1840. A research by a Yale Historian David Blight states that slave as an asset when compared to all of the railroads, all of the productive capacity and all of America’s manufacturing had more value even after the three were combined. This is the main reason why the South wanted to fight in order to continue with slavery. It was the factually the pillar of their success. In recent times, Coates has stated that the poor living conditions of the majority of black Americans today is traceable directly to policies on racism and living memory actions within. Clearly, the black Americans who were under slavery and in segregation of Jim Crow could not realize the American dream of meritocratic prosperity and self-determination, and culture of mistreatment generate a huge darkness. During these time of enslavement, both political and education rights were denied to the black population, the property they owned was in many occasions vandalized or stolen, and the law of the land did not protect them. This kind of traditions could not just disappear overnight. Additionally, the drivers associated with a growth of middle-class in twentieth-century such as higher education, homeownership, the GI Bill and the New Deals were not given to black American population.
A story of a man by the name Clyde Ross is told by Coates of how this black man ran away from Mississippi to look for work in Chicago. The man is hardworking man as he put his effort to saving some money to raise his family while on the other hand dreaming of owning a home. Unfortunately, in those days for a black person to buy a home in Chicago, the only way was to do so from predatory “contract.” It entails exorbitant rates by the seller for limited protection. Clyde Ross had to take three jobs at the expense of his family time. His wife also had to take a job with Marshall Field while some of his kids had to be taken out of private school. Ross was an able to be always be with his kids as he was busy looking for money. The time and money that Ross could have spent with his family instead went to make white speculators rich.
Black homebuyers at the time knew that the white was ripping them off and had to accept that for them to achieve something in America it was ok. The perceptions of this kind could have deep consequences as noted by Coates. As it is portrayed in the scenario, many states embraced policies which directly targeted for legal theft of black population most, ambitious, thrifty and energetic countrymen past society pale. The consequences reverberated beyond members of a family who were ripped off to society that observes the spectacle.
Coates observes that a whole swarm of factors is to blame due to the conditions that are experienced by black community currently and talking about reparations is sort of difficult. Each of the America Institution is traceable to a role in oppressing the black, starting from cities layouts to the culture of banks and workers. The racist history is bonded in the fabric of the nation, and one clear outcome is a big gap in living standard between the white population and black population. Treating of blacks as sub-Americans, sub-humans and sub-citizens are also additionally illustrated by the wealth gap between the white and black people further putting the country legacy of shameful past on the spot.
Through the process of reparations, this chasm will be closed. As true as this could be, wealth gap creation require teamwork of many aspects of the community and bridging it will utilize the same principle. In this context, granting mere cash will not solve the problem. For America to completely admit the wrongs of the past, a radical change should be made in every public institution. It is what Coates suggest regarding the topic of reparations. Coates noted that many of American citizens don’t believe the historical injustices against the blacks is the cause of their today predicaments. Majority of the population seems to think that both blacks and white have the equal level to start from and that resources are available to both. The process of reparations signifies bringing the past known to every person, and if possible redrafting present policies and could also imply monetary compensating of family members of past victims. If the country moves forward glorifying the past while assuming the past mistakes than most probably similar mistakes will be repeated in future. Reparations indicate changing the ways we do things by admitting that we have been on the wrong course. It is difficult for Americans to fully compensate African Americans due to past mistakes. However, the discussion about the past is of the essence and maybe that what frightens majority of the people. The concept of reparation scares not due to the fact that payment could be an issue, but threats stand out as a result of America’s history, heritage and its status in the world.
Reference
Coates, Ta-Nehisi. "The black family in the age of mass incarceration." The Atlantic 316.3 (2015): 82.
