Yet Another Letter to the Defender -- On Reparations
Dear Editor:
Here is a plan for reparations that can be implemented immediately, in my view.
There are properties maintained by the federal government, state governments, and probably county and municipal governments that formerly belonged to slave owners. There are also properties that were related to the institution of slavery now administrated by those governments.
These properties have revenues, some from tourism and usage fees for private events. For example, use of the Aiken Mansion - a slave owner's mansion - in South Carolina for fundraisers. Let 100% of the profits from these revenues be equally distributed to the historically Black colleges in the United States. There are your reparations from the governments, including the U.S. government.
This is a fair plan to all U.S. citizens. This plan does not raid the U.S. Treasury or other government treasuries, and it diverts some of the revenues streams from properties that were linked with slavery to Black educational institutions.
One problem with current plans for reparations is that slave ancestry must be proven. A Black U.S. citizen whose one parent was African and the other parent was White could not qualify for reparations. Even one who was born in the U.S. to two African parents would not qualify for reparations -- no documented slave ancestry. We do not get paid for just "being Black." Also I suspect much resentment for some who can qualify for reparations. My grandmother and her brothers passed for 100% White, but did not claim to be White, yet they had documented slave ancestry. Would these "White" descendents of slaves, get any reparations while "Black" descendents of slaves who could not prove their ancestry would be left out? And don't you think that the Black ones would be resentful of the White ones who legally got their money?
Also, if a person who is half-White and half-Black, such as Halle Berry, would that person get half of the reparation money since he or she is half-Black, i.e. half-slave ancestry? Does anyone get any reduction in pay based upon the level of White ancestry they have? Do they get the full amount or fractions based on White ancestry? Suppose I'm a descendent of one of the free Black slave owners? (Read Black Slavemasters: Free Black Slave Masters in South Carolina, 1790-1860 by Howard University graduate Larry Koger.) Not only would my reparations be reduced, but do I owe reparations myself?
Also, since the Democratic Party supported slavery in its past platforms before the end of the Civil War and it never apologized for its open support of slavery, does the Democratic National Committee of today owe us reparations? If it can be proven that slaves were used in one of the Democratic conventions in the 1800's, should the Democrats of today pay?
The Republican Party was formed in 1854 to abolish slavery, so we cannot go after them. Dang it.
Robert Oliver
Chicago
Here is a plan for reparations that can be implemented immediately, in my view.
There are properties maintained by the federal government, state governments, and probably county and municipal governments that formerly belonged to slave owners. There are also properties that were related to the institution of slavery now administrated by those governments.
These properties have revenues, some from tourism and usage fees for private events. For example, use of the Aiken Mansion - a slave owner's mansion - in South Carolina for fundraisers. Let 100% of the profits from these revenues be equally distributed to the historically Black colleges in the United States. There are your reparations from the governments, including the U.S. government.
This is a fair plan to all U.S. citizens. This plan does not raid the U.S. Treasury or other government treasuries, and it diverts some of the revenues streams from properties that were linked with slavery to Black educational institutions.
One problem with current plans for reparations is that slave ancestry must be proven. A Black U.S. citizen whose one parent was African and the other parent was White could not qualify for reparations. Even one who was born in the U.S. to two African parents would not qualify for reparations -- no documented slave ancestry. We do not get paid for just "being Black." Also I suspect much resentment for some who can qualify for reparations. My grandmother and her brothers passed for 100% White, but did not claim to be White, yet they had documented slave ancestry. Would these "White" descendents of slaves, get any reparations while "Black" descendents of slaves who could not prove their ancestry would be left out? And don't you think that the Black ones would be resentful of the White ones who legally got their money?
Also, if a person who is half-White and half-Black, such as Halle Berry, would that person get half of the reparation money since he or she is half-Black, i.e. half-slave ancestry? Does anyone get any reduction in pay based upon the level of White ancestry they have? Do they get the full amount or fractions based on White ancestry? Suppose I'm a descendent of one of the free Black slave owners? (Read Black Slavemasters: Free Black Slave Masters in South Carolina, 1790-1860 by Howard University graduate Larry Koger.) Not only would my reparations be reduced, but do I owe reparations myself?
Also, since the Democratic Party supported slavery in its past platforms before the end of the Civil War and it never apologized for its open support of slavery, does the Democratic National Committee of today owe us reparations? If it can be proven that slaves were used in one of the Democratic conventions in the 1800's, should the Democrats of today pay?
The Republican Party was formed in 1854 to abolish slavery, so we cannot go after them. Dang it.
Robert Oliver
Chicago
posted by Robert at 4:06 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home