One of the most controversial issues America has ever faced, dating back to the establishment of our society, would have to be the topic of racism. Not only was the fight for freedom a huge ordeal, but the aftermath was a touchy subject for most present day Americans. The idea of granting reparations for African Americans worries and disappoints us a little bit. Reparations for African Americans would be a very risky decision; giving them hush money to appease the situation does not make anything better at all. In fact, all it does is shows how weak and dependent African Americans really are, and that shows no change at all. Looking pass the financial crisis reparations for African Americans would bring upon the economy, think about how confusing it will be for someone to point out everyone who is legally entitled to the reparations.
Honestly, if it was announced that reparations were about to be awarded to those who were affected by racial segregation of the past, every African American in the United States of America would be standing in line swearing up and down that they were victims and deserve reparations.
When it all boils down, reparations for African Americans seem like a pretty good deal at the surface. Often times, it is what is under the surface that really matters. If we were to stand by and let reparations be given out in hopes to fix the damage that was caused decades ago with slavery, then what are we really saying for ourselves? That once again white people can own us by buying our forgiveness. Reparations for African Americans are unnecessary; there is no need to produce even more money that is just going to put us in even more debt. And for what reason? To give African Americans a leg up in the economy realm, to make up for lost time and wages, or just to appear as if you really care about their feelings? Either way we would decline the reparations. As much as the money would help all of us, we feel like we are better than that. And African Americans are better than that.
Ask yourself this:
Do you think African Americans are better than that?
Would you, honestly now, be in a favor of Reparations? Why or why not?
Hannah Bryan
ReplyDeleteFirst off, as a young white woman, I acknowledge that I have little to no grasp on the mental, emotional, psychological, and physical anguish that the Black community knew during the days of slavery. I offer my insight to further this conversation (and also to get a grade, of course!). Please believe me when I say that I am being as sincere as I can in my opinions.
One of several issues we are dealing with here is pride. How do we define pride? Is it inherently good, evil, or neutral? Pride, depending on the type, can cause either healing or harm. When, for example, one person refuses to be subjugated by another out of respect and love for oneself, that person has pride for his humanity. This is the ideal, positive pride after which people should seek. There is another type of pride, however, that can be detrimental. The pride I refer to here is the pride that says, “I’m too good for that/too good for you” and such. This is the pride that causes one to look down on others. This is the risky, negative pride that might eventually lead one into becoming the oppressor. The problem is that there can, at times, be a fine line between these two.
So which type of pride is involved in the criticisms of reparations for African-Americans? I make the argument that the first type I mentioned, the positive type, is more at work in this issue than the other. That’s not to say that the negative form is not present, though. (I am talking about the part of society that opposes reparations in general, not about this week’s group.) I think there is almost always a negative side to things. Some oppose it out of respect for themselves and their heritage while others look down on it from their high horse.
I am inclined to agree with the authors of this blog post: “giving [African-Americans] hush money to appease the situation does not make anything better at all. In fact, all it does is show how weak and dependent African Americans really are, and that shows no change at all.” However, there may be some in the Black community who find that accepting reparations does not do any damage to their own image. They might be acknowledging that terrible things were done, and they are simply trying to face those events to promote healing. Who can say for sure? I hope that those in the Black community can find the healing that they need.
As hard as it is, we cannot ignore the economic issues we face today. Reparations would certainly make an already complicated situation worse, and it might not even be as rewarding as people would hope or believe. What price could one possibly put on rape and dehumanization in order to make it okay? For these reasons, I must take the stance that monetary reparations are not the best idea, especially not at this time.
Finally, the idealist side of me thinks that all people in general should be better than that.
[Hannah Bryan wonders: why do my comments always turn out so freaking lengthy?]
ReplyDeleteAlexa MacKenzie
ReplyDeleteReparations for African Americans is something I wouldn't be in favor of. I understand that it may seem like a good way to give a big "we're sorry" for mistakes of the past, but where would reparations get us besides more problems due to lack of funding and, like the blog said, lack of knowledge who really deserves them. And, I mean who would deserve reparations? Where would we draw the line and say, no you didn't suffer enough, you don't deserve compensation. It's just too blurry of a line and not to mention I don't believe paying people off for mistakes of the past would get anyone anywhere in the future, it just doesn't make sense. Also, why exactly would a African Americans want to take this type of money. It is sort of like hush money in a sense because usually after you get compensated for something you’re supposed to let it go and never talk about it again. But, if we never talk about the injustices then they may one day get repeated, and that would just negate all the suffering endured by those who went through it, not just those getting compensated.
Althea Daley,
ReplyDeleteI do not believe reparations are a good idea for African-Americans but it isn't because we are "better than that". Firstly, there are very few if any African-Americans still alive that have personally been enslaved. While many of the proceeding generations have suffered terribly from racism and the likes, the debts that are owed to the slaves can never be paid to those truly deserving. Also, what gives someone the right to put a price on a slave's suffering? Another reason why we don't need reparations is simply because just like there are no direct slaves and very few indirect slaves, the same goes for the actual slave-owners. Because of the numerous ethnic backgrounds that are in this country today we cannot place the blame on all Whites or even make the connection that their ancestors were all slave owners. We don't need reparations because whenever finances are involved people lose sight of the true meaning of the cause. There are some instances where African-Americans are still being victimized because of race but as a whole we aren't still suffering economically because of slavery, it's deeper than that.
Jasmin Faust
ReplyDeleteFirst of all I get so sick and tired of black people thinking that they are owed something. That line has gotten very old. Yes I do believe slavery was wrong but no one can repay you financially for mistreatment and brutality that was placed upon your ancestors. Reparations aren't going to change what happened in the past so why bother. Secondly, why should I be paid for slavery I wasn't shackled and beaten and mistreated. Every African American wasn't mistreated so why should they all collect? It was our ancestors who had the hard life and fought so that we could have a "better" life. I really wish we as black people could get past that stage of life. Stop feeling sorry and dwelling on the past. If anything we owe our ancestors a little more appreciation for what they went through and we should be grateful that it wasn't us that had to go through life "back" then.
Jasmin Faust....
ReplyDeleteI'm just curious what does this have to do with what we are working on right now?
India Williams,
ReplyDeleteI agree with Jasmine. Some black people have the mind set that the white man owes them this and that and this is what keeps black people so far behind from other minorities. We blame the white people for our position in society instead of blaming ourselves for keeping ourselves down. Our African American ancestors have done so much to get us where we are and some of us do not do anything with the opportunities that we have. They fought so much to get an education and equal rights and it seems like African-Americans now a days do not appreciate all what was done for them. By giving reparations, it will be just putting something into the hands of those who have theirs out. Giving them what they wanted. But if reparations were to be given, it should be given in a way that will help African Americans improve themselves. Like the Native Americans do not have to pay taxes and they get scholarships to attend school. Many African Americans say that they cannot afford school so maybe this would be the push that they need to go.
Melissa Dutra
ReplyDeleteI've always thought of forgiveness as something more for yourself than others. Also, that just because we forgive doesn't mean we forget. Although these are cliche notions, they represent how I feel about reparations for African Americans. Essentially, African Americans should forgive because by carrying hatred inside for white people, will only cause themselves harm--keeping them from feeling whole and well. In addition, while they can and should forgive white society for past injuries of slavery, it will never be forgotten. Reparations for past crimes is a ridiculas concept, because it will not make black Americans forget a long history of pain. Also, I don't think African Americans would accept reparations because it undermines their strength as a race, and their worth as a people. They will be dupes of the White man again. In slavery, white imperialist powers would deceive their slaves, to think they will be set free if they do certain things, act accordingly, and conform to the control of white opressors. This can be seen in many slavery narratives, like "Oroonoko" and "Equiano", where they are deceived by European imperalists into slavery and than deceived again and again to be regulated--kept from causing rebellion. In correlation, accepting reparations from white society would be like an act of deceit being repeated from the past.
LaQuanda Smtih
ReplyDeleteI do not favor reparations. Reparations for past abuse will not make up for a long history of pain. Lets be real, I doubt that any of the slaves that endured any of the physical, mental and emotional torment are still living today to reap the benefits of any reparations. A vast majority of African-Americans feel as though they are owed something, but for what. Today there is nothing that any of us can go through that can amount to slave times. What will receiving reparations actually prove?
La’Kendra Curry
ReplyDeleteReparations are one of the last things that we, as African Americans, need. In my opinion, giving us reparations is going to prove what most people of other races already think of us…that we always want a handout. What exactly would giving us reparation prove or solve? We can’t change the past, nor can we sit and pretend as though it never happened but we can’t be bitter about the situation either. Glancing back at the past as a reminder is one thing, but dwelling in the past is another because it eventually ends up hindering your future. As long as we keep referring to the past whenever situations that we feel uncomfortable in come up, then our future is going to be just as gloomy as our past. I’ll be so glad when we as a people move on from this whole slavery minded era and start simply seeing the past as motivation instead of just an excuse to be angry.
Hallie Bowns
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, in regard to Alexa's comment on Reparations being a big "I'm sorry," well, frankly, as a person of the 21st century, like everyone else living to this day, I feel that it is not our place to apologize. Yes my great ancestors may have been slave owners. Do i know for sure? NO, but the fact that I'm white and some of my family is from the south does possibly have the inclination that just maybe they were slave owners. Is it true? I have no idea. But we have no control over what happened and therefore we have no reason to apologize, no matter the race.
Now in regards to Reparations, they would be a horrible idea. As if there isn't enough controversy slavery itself. Why add to it? Besides, most people don't even know their heritage back that far, even though it's not that far to look into. There is no way to efficiently give Reparations to all of those who deserve it and there is no guarantee that people will be lining up claiming that they deserve reparations as well.
I can understand where the typical stereotype that people would see Reparations as a hand out and a sign of weakness, butm\, say America went trhough with this, whose to say people of slavery don't deserve at least something? No there is no way to I guess give back to those slaves that underwent all that suffering, but if there was a way, I'm sure it would be considered. Either way, I don;t think people of this day and age deserve or need the Reparations.
Adrianne Carter
ReplyDeleteI am On the fence about reperations, especially since the chinese were given reperations after they were worked half to death. The Native Americans were given reperations after their people were slaughtered. The African American race has suffered economic, spiritual, and emotional terrorism that has yet to stop. If reperations came in the form of a free ride to college or tax free shopping. If there was a way to repay the long suffering that black people then I would be all for it, but there is not, so someone should at least try. People have been calling black people lazy for a while now i dont think it would hurt anyones pride if black people were called lazy as the "check" was being written. On the other hand I am not sure that the american economy could handle paying for its sins against the black community on whos back it was built.
Gerald Law
ReplyDeleteI feel like reparations would not be helpful, in anyway, to African-Americans. There is no amount of money that could make up for what happened our people, much less make us forget. Some African-Americans might be all for receiving reparations, and I think that is extremely selfish of them. Slavery is something that affected all African-Americans and taking a few dollars to benefit yourself momentarily is, in my opinion, disrespectful to those who suffered for us and died with nothing. These reparations would not be something that would sustain us for the rest of our lives, and it definitely wouldn't help future generations at all.
Natalie Hodges
ReplyDeleteI do honestly believe that it must be dually considered that those African Americans who presently living and can be record dated back to having been directly affected by the trials of slavery should receive reparations, however those of the past two generations who were not inherently affected by the same trails as 'our' forefathers via slavery (not Civil Rights because that is a WHOLE other matter on its own) should not receive them. It is not at all enough to say that, "Oh, well, I still feel oppressed today...the white man has his big cleft foot on my neck and refuses to let me succeed therefore I need to be paid for the continuing suffering from the days of my forefathers." The suffering undergone long before today has no comparison to the bull crap suffering we call ourselves having to deal with on a "regular." What our ancestors had to endure should be paid in full and not in money but in continuous apology on a daily basis and following that i believe vindication of 'overcoming' should lend itself through the dispersal of $$$.
Ashlee Thompson
ReplyDeleteOkay so as a young African American young lady, I don’t want anything from “the white society”. So they can claim any success or good thing that come from this reparationAnyway I agree with the point that almost every African American, half African American, quarter African American or even a person who is 1/16th African America will have they hand out asking for money. I myself personal will be okay will not compensation for the ignorance of other people. Because with or without that compensation I will still live on and I will still reach my full potential. And as a country the American Economy can’t afford to pay black people for all of the racial segregation that has taken place. All reparations for Africans Americans will do is give the government someone to blame for the economic crisis. Look how people talk down about Barack Obama. Not saying all his critics are critiquing him based solely off his race but let’s not even fool ourselves by saying that’s not the case for a few. I have a strong feeling if McCain was in office certain groups of people would not be doing all the complaining and president bashing they are doing now. And honestly Ignorance should not hold us back as a society and a race as a whole. Let people be ignorant, and prove em wrong and they won’t have anything to say. I believe African Americans are sooooo much better than that. The white society already sees us as a race of people who are constantly looking for a hand-out. And I for one don’t need or want one, I want to accredit God and my hard work for my success. And if you can’t tell I am now and will be against the thought of reparations for African Americans.
Nathaniel Watson
ReplyDeleteAs the stereotypical thug in the commercial from the movie "Malibu's most wanted" would say, "Hmm, I never thought of it that way". I always thought reparations would be alright to have given to us, but that was mainly because I didn't think of it in this context. but I was aware that it would probably not make sense in any feasible way, especially if it were to every
African-American person, which is what most people envision. If they were to go through with the 40 acres and a mule, they would have to give away half of the acreage of america, and most of it would be useless land in alaska or boring land in the montana, south dakota area. and what form of monetary compensation could we expect? Especially with the economy the way that it is. Do I think that African Americans are better than that? Absolutely. Do I think that African Americans think that about themselves? I'm not so sure....
AML2600... Kandis Hankerson
ReplyDeleteYes I feel that African Americans are better than that when it comes to reparation. If we were able to survive this long, then there is no reason why we should have the “white” man pay us back for all of the wrong doing. I see African Americans as being too strong minded to accept an offer like that. So I would never be in favor of reparation because all it is allowing is for the “white” man to still have a leash on us. So regardless in the end if we get reparation or not the “white” man controls us. That is why I say that it makes no sense in letting something like reparation happen. Just like how my mother used to tell me when I was young “you can do bad all by yourself.” So although we as African Americans may struggle, we still are able to overcome the nonsense. In doing so not being a part of reparation will just continue to make us stronger individuals.
Travis Baten
ReplyDeleteThe biggest oppression that African Americans face today are from themselves. Life is a mental battle that many African Americans have lost in the post slavery years. The irony is that our slave ancestors never felt as if they were owed anything, and they were the ones in bondage. Yet, their descendants feel the need to demand repayment for what happened to their ancestors?
It seems to be a consensus that reparations are not a good idea. The only type of reparation I can see being possible is that of returning what was financially taken from African Americans, such as land, if it can be proven to have been taken.
Other than that, Black people, and people in general, ought to stop making excuses and start taking action. We spend so much time thinking of a plausible excuse when we could have put that time and energy to better use actually doing something productive. Black people have defeated themselves mentally by thinking that something is owed to them when they have not done anything. It is just like going to work; you are not paid to show up, you are paid to be productive. Black people have become content with simply showing up.
The issue of reparations for African-Americans has been an issue prominent in American History for over centuries. Unlike, the Native-Americans and other groups that have suffered at the hands of the dominate culture, African-Americans have still yet to receive the forty-acres and a mule they were promised. It is a sign that America has still yet to admit to the pain and suffering that African-Americans have suffered. I do not think that Africans deserve reparations because not only would it be hard for the money to get properly dispersed but there is no way that America would be able to give all of the ancestors of enslaved Africans money. Plus, America is in no economic shape to give money they do not have out.
ReplyDeleteCameron Leonard...
ReplyDeleteI believe that African Americans are better than that. Slaves have gone through countless abuse over the course of time, as well they have given Africans Americans a foundation to stand and be proud of. Respiration's can’t be a way of patching up hundreds of years of bondage. That’s like saying “Here’s 40 acres and a mule, sorry for treating you like crap”. Money can’t buy everything and neither do I think you can pay someone off and forget the past. Yes of course it would be hard for me to not look at a large amount of money and pass on it. But my gut feeling is that I wouldn’t take the money. Especially if I know I’ve worked my butt off, don’t throw money in my face and expect for everything to breeze over. Slavery was a horrible thing something my body wouldn’t be able to take. I give great respect to slaves and for the pain they took for the betterment of our future.
Group 6 Says..
ReplyDeleteTo Answer Jasmine's question about how this ties into what we are reading now, it relates to two of the books we are reading actually. There was a line in "Their Eyes Are Watching God" that referenced how black people always play the victim, and a recurring theme throughout "Beloved" involves slavery so.. that's the relevance lol.
Yes I do believe African Americans are better than that as to not accept the money, but when t comes to speaking about individuals that are African American, I believe many would accept the money based on their own greed. I think it’s nice to think that African Americans are above the money and feel that by being given respirations that that would be in a slap in the face, but many don’t care about the issue at hand. Many Africa Americans know nothing of their past history, or swear up and down that they are not African even though that’s where our descendants were from. So if they hear money is being given out as an apology for slavery of course they’d be ignorant enough to accept it. To them slavery didn’t impact them directly enough for them to care. I would definitely not be in favor of respirations. As said before ,I feel that is not enough for the years slavery has impacted the United States of America. It continues to impact the minds of many African Americans today, subconsciously. Many are still entrapped in mental slavery. For instance, a simple thing such as hair in the African American community shows our entrapment. Little school children favoring a white doll as “good” as opposed to a “bad” black doll still shows our enslavement. Although I wish to believe that all African Americans are better than that, the truth is many are not.
ReplyDeleteVanessa White ^^^^^^
ReplyDelete