Harry has an interesting post on the astounding black-white wealth gap, and ends by pointing to reparations as a possible solution. He gives as succinct and compelling a summary of the reparations movement as I’ve read:
That movement says the Black-white wealth gap was created immorally, over centuries, on purpose, with wide complicity of many entities, and its correction must be fashioned in like manner, this merely in order for America to be just.
This, to me, gets at the heart of the question: What penance (or recompense) can possibly redeem so profound an evil as slavery?
Harry doesn’t say explicity whether he’s a proponent of reparations, but does set up a white straw man to oppose the movement:
White people, I believe, mostly oppose it because they think they’ve given Black people way more than enough, which, from a Black perspective, is truly interesting.
I’m sure there are whites who believe that, but this strikes me as a broad over-generalization…I am a product of white middle-America and can’t recall a single white person suggesting this as a case against reparations. Two arguments I do hear often, one practical, the other more emotional:
- The practical argument can be summed up as: “To what end?” For some, the only salient question is whether reparations will actually improve things for Blacks (as opposed to simply assuaging white guilt). The thinking here goes that, as implementing reparations would be extraordinarly expensive, political and cumbersome, they had better actually work. For those who see government dollars as a disincentive to self-improvement, reparations are seen as actually immoral and unjust.
- Many whites have a more emotional response: “I didn’t do it.” This comes from a feeling that it’s unfair for whites today to be held accountable for the sins of previous generations… especially given that most white Americans are not actually descended from slaveowners. The sentiment here: “Why should I be punished for something I had no control over and did not participate in?”
It strikes me that this second argument may actually be at the heart of the tension, and central to any racial reconciliation, including reparations. The reparations movement seeks to right a wrong that has left Blacks in a hole out of which it will take generations to climb. Today, according to a CNN poll just a few years old, only 1 in 8 white Americans consider themselves racially biased – in other words: they don’t think they dug the hole.
Where do we start? Where is the common ground upon which reconciliation might begin? What is required of whites? Of blacks? Of government? Is a systemic solution “with wide complicity of many entities” the only way to make a difference? And/or, must reconciliation begin in the hearts of individual men and women? And just how do you go about creating that?
Your thoughts, please.
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Friday, June 5th 2009 at 5:54 am |
@ Gary: Great and powerful prayer from St. Francis. Imagine if we all prayed it (and meant it).
@ Sterling: Wow. What a moving story and eloquent summation of the argument for personal responsibility. Thanks for that.
@ S. Matlock: I appreciate you sharing your perspective. It’s one I could never speak to. I’d be curious to know your thoughts: If white apologies or financial commitments won’t make any difference in solving the problems you cite, is there anything white people *should* be doing?
@ Erin T.: I share your concern that the more we spotlight race, the more divided we become. That was my hesitation when deciding whether to join this project. Not sure if I still believe that… but I’m not sure that I don’t, either. More to come…
@ Berkeley: Thanks!
@ All: Really appreciate you reading the blog, and taking the time to comment. Please come back again.
Thursday, June 4th 2009 at 8:34 pm |
I saw a commotion in the rear of the church on a palm Sunday eucharist. It was 1944. White men rushed to the door. Silhouetted against sunlidght was a tall black man, denied entry to the nave of the church. He was in a suit and tie. It grieved me then as now. I began making reparations then and will never quit.
Thursday, June 4th 2009 at 2:49 pm |
Something that I have found to be true in my experience- when people focus on how race impacts or should impact something, it bubbles to the top and all of a sudden, race is a big deal. When the actual issue is addressed, that difference recedes into the background. Is it an overnight process? No. But it does happen.
Obama. Tiger. Oprah. Denzel. To name but a few. You can proclaim that something should different and talk at someone all day long. Or you can show them how it’s done, and let mind after mind become shaped by the evidence before them- that race doesn’t matter. One of the best comments I heard after the 2008 presidential election: “Can you believe Obama got elected?” “I know- our first Hawaiian president!” Funny how people don’t think of that first.
For larger scale problems, determine what the actual issue is, and what problem is to be solved. Several years back, Wisconsin revamped their welfare system to actually empower people and give them the tools to build their way up out of welfare. With tremendous success. Without regard to race. When you specify things because of race, no matter how well intentioned, inadvertantly, it is racism. It may have a positive end, but it is still racism.
Thursday, June 4th 2009 at 9:24 am |
I noticed: “Why should I be punished for something I had no control over and did not participate in?”
That’s quite a self-oriented response.
Generally I am trying to find “how” questions in lieu of “why” questions.
And ones that challenge me to offer something to others beyond myself.
Perhaps a better question is: “How can I help bring healing where others have been hurt by a third-party?”
I’m reminded of a prayer attributed to St Francis:
“Lord, make us instruments of your peace. Where there is hatred, let us sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is discord, union; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy. Grant that we may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.”
Perhaps where we start is just reflecting on stuff like that in our daily interactions with the people we live with, work with, meet on the road, meet in the store, etc.
It may take a good number of generations (more and more) for healing to significantly increase (more and more).
Thursday, June 4th 2009 at 8:21 am |
Reparations, will not solve the deeper issues that plague the black community. (True this is yet another unfilled promise from the goverment ran predomintely by white anglo-saxon males.) Throwing money at a problem only offers a band-aid solution. Those of us in the black commuinty need to stop looking for the proverbial I’m sorry from “white folks”. Even if they said sorry could it really cover over the evil institution of slavery?
Reparations will not heal the high unemployment in the black community, Young black males being incarcerated in high numbers and out of wed lock births and the issues go on and on. Let’s focus on tackling these problems and not on an over 100 year old promise. We are right here,right now, let’s move forward!
Thursday, June 4th 2009 at 7:14 am |
Well said, Jim.