Reparations for Black Slavery; A Proposal re: "40 Acres and a Mule"

[Progressive Lawyer]

With this country's renewed interest in slavery reparations, I think it is important to recognize what the original promise was.

In Georgia, General Sherman promised 40 acres and a mule for every former slave. This was also referenced in the Freemans Bureau. That promise was not simply a transfer of wealth. (40 acres + mule.). Rather it was the promise of self-determined labor. There was no promise of success or profits.

So if we are going to finally fulfill this promise 200+ years later, I think it would be a mistake to issue lumpsum payments because that is merely a transfer of wealth. I think the more analogous remedy would be free tuition at any state university or trade school.

[jimfields33]

1. General Sherman promised something.

But the congress and president never passed the bill. I think reparations may be a solution but general Sherman cannot make governmental promises.

[Progressive Lawyer]

3. Freedman's Bureau was authorized by Congress. NT

[jimfields33]

6. Wow. That changes things. Why weren't they given it?

A whole lot of change could have happened had they received this at the time.

[hippywife]

2. You are absolutely, positively wrong.

The fact that those promises were never delivered has meant Black families have never had the opportunity to even try to build any sort of generational wealth on par with white families. They're due the back pay...with interest.

[Demsrule86]

4. I just don't agree...this is a losing issue for us politically...let's move into the future and

provide equality for all.

[hippywife]

7. It doesn't matter...

if you think that it's a political loser. It's the right thing to do and has been for a very long time. There can't be equality for all, when there's never been any equity for Black Americans, ever.

[Demsrule86]

17. It is not the right thing to do if it helps elect Republicans...you have to deal with reality here.

And given how long since slavery and immigration after slavery. It would be impossible to sort it out anyway...built a better country for all...and stop pushing for something that will never happen and will only elect more Republicans.

[Celerity]

13. We will get destroyed politically if we push this, plus the complexities of who gets reparations

are maddeningly labyrinthine.

For instance, would I, as a racially mixed black US citizen, be eligible?

I am only a US citizen because of the American legal construct of unrestricted jus soli. I was born in Los Angeles in late 1996, but left before I was 2 years of age when my parents (non US citizens) moved us back to London.I did live in LA again as a young adult for several years as a uni student, but in total, I have lived in the US for less than 5 years, and I do not live there now. I am also the only US citizen in my family.

I have no desire to move back to the US at the present (which is very depressing, as the US should be the best overall, on balance, place on the planet to live IMHO). My wife (non US citizen) is vehemently against us moving back. The nation is simply too violent, too racist, too homophobic (we are married lesbians), too misogynistic, and too (overall) dangerous atm for my taste, and likely will be for ages.

My family is well off, I have zero economic need of any reparations from any nation, nor do I feel like I am owed any.

I would not accept any reparations from the US (or would simply use them all to help defeat the American RW), but I highly doubt that many in my situation would also turn them down or donate them all.

[Demsrule86]

16. What an interesting life you have had...and I agree with what you say...

I was born here and plan to die here...I intend to fight the evil GOP as long as I live. Take this country back.

[Progressive Lawyer]

5. Former slaves were never promised wealth. They were promised an opportunity to gain wealth.

Because 40 acres and a mule as not the promise of wealth, but an opportunity to gain wealth...through their own labor.

[hippywife]

8. For which they were blocked at every turn.

They are owed and there's no getting around that fact. The only people who think the way you do are products of the privilege of white skin and the entry into opportunity that automatically provides.

[Progressive Lawyer]

9. I never denied that they are owed. I said lumpsum payments are not analogous to 40 acres + mule.

By the way I am not white.

[hippywife]

10. However you identify...

welcome to ignore.

[MutantAndProud]

11. Agreed

And while it may cost closer to 40 acres these days that it used to, college can have far less utility (not all colleges or degrees are equal but there are very few golden tickets to the perfect idealized college experience for ‘the best’ even if you pick a good path and have it paid for).

On a more constructive but sober tone, it’s hard to know exactly what reparations are best with coked up white suprematist tech bros waiting to buy up or steal any reparations with state backing as soon as they’re given. Waiting and debating forever isn’t healthy but it has to be paired with some stabilizing action to counteract Trump’s Hooverville climate or it will be like the veterans in DC who were dispersed all over again. We need bold action like FDR and Eisenhower’s programs or any reparations will be closer to cheap political mailers, if they’re ever even given.

I’ve had labor stolen from me *and* opportunities denied, and I’m not a minority in this country by the color of my skin, that’s *still* the reality we live in, even with the hair pulling prevarications of supposedly well meaning politicians who don’t actually want to calculate values stolen currently or historically or think about what the value of a healthy life would be to model a reparation package after without resorting to cheap mass built projects that turn to slums and reservations without access to the postal system and running water

[Happy Hoosier]

19. What do you think that looks like?

A giant check?

I am categorically opposed to lump-sum cash payouts. We have to be strategic with our efforts.

[keithbvadu2]

12. I like your idea. A lump sum would only be a temporary transfer of wealth.

I like your idea. A lump sum would only be a temporary transfer of wealth.

[Captain Stern]

14. 'Renewed interest in slavery reparations" does in no way mean popular support.

It's just not happening. The only folks that would be in favor of that, are folks that would get money.....the rest of us..not so much. And, it just doesn't make all that much sense, and the logistics of it are incredibly complicated. Complicated enough to make sure nothing will happen about it.

I think a more reasonable approach to reparations would be to make things financially right with the folks that were impacted by our nation's treatment of them after slavery.

There are still people alive today that weren't allowed to attend certain public schools, live in some neighborhoods, allowed to work some places..etc. They, or their children wouldn't have to prove that their great-great grandparents were slaves (when it was still legal).

[SickOfTheOnePct]

15. Agree

If it’s determined that cash reparations are the way to go, the number also has to make sense…I hear numbers like $5M each or even from a speaker last week $200M each.

Given that the average net worth of white Americans is a bit under $1M, and the median is less than $200k, the numbers above don’t make sense.

[flamingdem]

18. Most Americans don't have $400 for an emergency

according to a recent study.

This issue is a loser for dems. It will create resentment and the right will absolutely run with it and pretend it's happening.

[NowISeetheLight]

20. Horrible Idea

This would be about 100x less popular than “Defund the Police”. I’d also wonder who is going to pay for it. We already have some of the nations highest taxes in California. I know I’ll be moving if something like this happens. I can only imagine the Republican TV commercials at election time. They’ll call it the “White Tax”.

Just because you lived here you get a payment? With no proof you were individually discriminated against by redlining? The payment for “over-policing”? WTH is that?

I’d be in favor of a stay in the statute of limitations to file suit for people directly affected. Like how here in CA they suspended he time limit for sex abuse cases. But just giving lump sums of money to people? It’ll never happen.