Someone asked me about reparations today. They wanted to know if i thought that America should give black people reparations for slavery. I thought on it only momentarily. Then, i said of course not. America should not give reparation for something they can not repair, they should not give reparations for slavery. They should however give reparations for stealing our culture and history. By displacing a people and creating the first group of non willful immigrants in American history, early American settlers set African Americans today behind. Yes i said it. And no it is not a victimist attitude that i posses, rather one of a man with no history and no country of origin so to speak. How can you be expected to have a sense of country and pride and culture, if your parents went to segregated schools and your moms moms mom picked cotton, and NO ONE knows where they came from. If your family has no history beyond 1860 and your great grandmother was born in 1907 and didnt pass until 2008, the only sense of culture you have is what we have been able to adapt while here.
Black people have a truly unique experience and there is little that could be done to allow us to have the same starting point as other immigrants that came to America of their own volition, or even of those who were forced out of America by incoming settlers. So no i dont think land and donkeys will be reparations will be given for slavery.
What is your take on the situation?
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5 comments:
I like how you put this. It's not about reparations for slavery, it's about the entire history, especially in the years between slavery and today. We have to focus on today, and on how historical events lead us to this situation.
This is something that most Americans, at least most white Americans, don't seem to understand at all. Once they make the connections, then we can start talking about what needs to be done.
i agree. it's not about repaying us for goods stolen. what was taken from us doesn't have monetary value; it's irreplaceable.
what kills me though, is that people actually think that because slavery was eventually abolished, we should just forget that it ever happened. and dare we remember our ancestors, we're accused of victimizing ourselves. the flaw in that argument, however, is that even though slavery no longer exists, the drastic, long-lasting, and debilitating effects impact our lives, the lives of our children, and probably even their children to come.
people seem to forget that when our ancestors were freed, identity and self-worth, education, money, and homes to call their own, didn't magically appear. meanwhile, white people, by this point, were enjoying almost 250 years of luxury at our expense. they knew how to read and write, they owned their own homes and property, they acquired wealth and businesses and political offices; didn't lift a finger, but collected that which enabled them to secure the cultural, academic, professional, and financial security they enjoy today.
unequal footing at it's best. a concept that few white people seem to grasp. perhaps if they did, they would realize that what was done to us can never be repaired. how easy it would be for them to simply send a check to every black household in america. how thoroughly that would ease their consciences. it's not that easy, and we as black people, shouldn't want to make it that easy for them.
instead of concerning themselves with reparations, they should be asking themselves what they can do to combat the mental, psychological, and emotional chains they've binded us with today; the institutionalized racism they honor and uphold today. it's too late to remedy what was done in the past, it's time to focus on what's being done NOW.
peace. love. light.
jade
p.s. sorry for the long post. it was a thought-provoking question though, and as you can see, it's a subject i'm passionate about. =-)
great blog by the way!
Well said, Jade! And I'm glad you took the time to share it all with us.
thanks to both of you for the insight i really appreciate it i wish more people would read it and leave some thoughts so we can open a dialogue
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