Reparations
Reparations, it’s a call from a race of people that had ancestors enslaved from pasted generations ago. Their seeking redressing in the form of monies or possibly land or whatever financial gain they feel they’re entitle to. In history books you have stories of the white race as well as other nationalities taking part in the slave trade on the continent of Africa. There’s even stories of Africans enslaving Africans.
Regardless to how they got to other lands besides from which they were born, they stepped their souls upon a new method of how life goes about its daily business. Laws were established that said, “individuals of a particular race were less then men & women”. There are countless others but another one that had to bring psychological torment among other illnesses was the “obey thy master” and “do as you where told” or risk the result of punishment. Nothing like in todays jurisdictional system were you can get a temporary pass and walk free on a recognizance bond. If you did get off that easily what a great ass-licker that was. But normally, depending on the crime, they really pain a humiliating price.
How do you even begin to calculate the order of the line and how much each negro is entitle to? Just because there’s a possibility that a great, great, anything of yours was bullwhipped by a slave owner or his or her employee that entitles you to compensation? Can you provide evidence other then the color of your skin that an ancestor of yours—deep roots now—was illegally forced without just cause upon a boat and brought to a foreign land to be another race’s property?
After slavery was ended the negro race went through change after difficult change: wondering how they were to feed, cloth, and shelter themselves, to now, asking for reparations. During the interspace there was the “go back to Africa” movement and the whites only state of mind written on the walls damn near everywhere, especially in their school systems. But the Negros were just starting to learn how to read, so I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt up to a certain decade. However, they all had to catch wind of the “go back to Africa state of mind” in the early 1900s!
According to the news outlet NPR n 2020 the state of California’s legislature embark onto a high road that no other state had achieved before. They assembled a team to investigate the history of the United States of America and slavery and how it has impacted the negro inhabitants of the sunshine state. Afterwards develop a blueprint in hopes to one day redress for the pain and suffering of their kinfolk.
SANDHYA DIRKS: “So reparations for slavery is something Black people have been fighting for since even before slavery was abolished. But at the national level, there’s really never been enough political support”.
Dirks, race and identity correspondent, goes on to say after being asked a question: “well, it’s always been really hard to get public support for reparations. Poll after poll has found that aside from Africa Americans, there’s just not a lot of support for cash payments. Some polls have found that the general public don’t believe Black Americans deserve reparations”. That was from an interview dated July 7, 2024
On February 27, 2024 San Francisco leaders voted unanimously on a resolution as they formally apologized for the city’s role in perpetuating racism and discrimination, with several stating that this was just the start of reparations for negro residents and not the end.
Across the country in a small Massachusetts town the reparations variation is in full force. The town has mapped out a 10 year municipal reparations initiatives plan. On issues such as programs for the youth and first-time homebuyers among other solutions. That monies is to transfer out of the tax revenue from the sale of cannabis. Without state legislation approval the reparations committee can not handout monies to the Negros.
Since its inauguration the reparations fund has accumulated ($476,966) in cash monies. In 2021 it was ($210,000), 2022 ($134,330), 2023 ($105,537) and so far this year 2024 only ($58,000). With so many factors in play reaching their goal we’ll be an uphill battle, especially only having a population of around 40,O00 as of 2020. Adding other town needs it might be impossible. Mandi Jo Hanneke, at large councilor, suggested “another cause of action while stating there were more important issues to deal with other then reparations”. One example she laid bare was a “new department for public works headquarters”.
CITE
California is trying to lead the way on reparations but not clear on the path to take
This episode was produced by Brianna Scott. It was edited by Gigi Douban and Adam Raney. Our executive producer is Sami Yenigun.NPR’s Adrian Florido speaks with NPR race and identity correspondent Sandhya Dirks By Adrian Florido (JULY 7, 2024)
San Francisco plans to apologize to Black residents for racist laws. Reparations advocates want more
BY JANIE HAR February 27, 2024
Alternatives sought as reparations funding from cannabis tax dwindles in Amherst
By SCOTT MERZBACH July 11, 2024