General Discussion

MH1

(19,248 posts)

92. Probably not direct monetary "reparations", but

Tue May 10, 2016, 10:28 PM

May 2016

I support some level of affirmative action in job placement, education, and other opportunities as a way to partially redress the wrongs of the past.

In addition to that, a decent social safety net would go a long way to making reparations unnecessary, and would not need to be racially biased.

One factor to consider is that as individuals, LOTS of people are disadvantaged for a whole host of historical reasons, not just African Americans. The reason for some sort of redress (e.g. affirmative action) targeted at AAs is the massive SCOPE of the disenfranchisement and abuse that was heaped on AAs historically just because of race. But we should have a society where everyone who comes from a disadvantaged background, has opportunities to overcome those disadvantages.

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

174 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Should the US provide reparations for slavery and Jim Crow? [View all] LuckyTheDog May 2016 OP

No. Why is there never any talk about reparations for Native Americans? tonyt53 May 2016 #1

I don't think reparations for African Americans excludes that. LuckyTheDog May 2016 #2

Agreed! One never excludes another! Silver_Witch May 2016 #5

OP wants to know why Native Americans are the most forgotten group in America. apnu May 2016 #131

I think advocating for one thing... LuckyTheDog May 2016 #146

I meant tony53t, not the OP of the thread. apnu May 2016 #150

This reminds me of an argument I had LuckyTheDog May 2016 #151

Wow, that guy was missing the point of BLM. apnu May 2016 #158

I agree (nt) LuckyTheDog May 2016 #159

I wouldn't say "never..." eShirl May 2016 #6

There is, wickerwoman May 2016 #57

One old white woman stands for reparations Silver_Witch May 2016 #3

How about a biracial person descended from both slaves and slaveowners? Nye Bevan May 2016 #19

I think this would be a good time to use the "one drop" doctrine. ret5hd May 2016 #52

All of them! Silver_Witch May 2016 #100

Who's going to pay for it? NYC Liberal May 2016 #46

How about those who inherited wealth from slavery? Octafish May 2016 #82

We are! Silver_Witch May 2016 #97

The article is wrong GulfCoast66 May 2016 #4

You said "there is a consensus" without providing a source for the claim. It's not... ChisolmTrailDem May 2016 #15

Just my opinion GulfCoast66 May 2016 #32

Gotcha. If reparations were to be awarded, what affect do you suppose that would have on the... ChisolmTrailDem May 2016 #37

Not a lot long term GulfCoast66 May 2016 #38

Check post #9. Sensible people are not advocating checks cut to individuals brush May 2016 #133

This message was self-deleted by its author snot May 2016 #7

Absolutely. sofa king May 2016 #8

Are all African-Americans descendants of slaves? I know one POTUS who is not. WinkyDink May 2016 #18

I am less concerned... sofa king May 2016 #34

Ever heard of the Dawes Rolls? The same kind of research could be done in this case. brush May 2016 #134

Reparations would be a bargain if we consider the stolen wages and compounding brush May 2016 #9

Oh no not this again tularetom May 2016 #10

See post #9. brush May 2016 #135

Really hard to do. TrappedInUtah May 2016 #11

No it wouldn't. Igel May 2016 #74

Poor argument. Nothing was paid to the millions who had their wages stolen brush May 2016 #137

You make good points. See post #9. There are areas of agreement brush May 2016 #136

Clarence Thomas gets a check while a desperately poor white single mother gets zip? Nye Bevan May 2016 #12

Thank you for that post. hamsterjill May 2016 #14

Yes, obviously it should be thrown out the window because Clarence would get a check. Katashi_itto May 2016 #21

Really? Your opinion of Clarence Thomas decides this for you? LuckyTheDog May 2016 #24

Reparations might take other forms aside from cash. kwassa May 2016 #25

black people get stopped by cops while white affluenza teen gets of free JI7 May 2016 #48

You don't think white people get stopped by cops? Waldorf May 2016 #54

not for being white . JI7 May 2016 #55

Love that thinking FlatBaroque May 2016 #56

That's not the only way reparations could work. wickerwoman May 2016 #59

Exactly. No one is talking about cutting checks to individuals. brush May 2016 #141

Figures. That's like Hillary's argument against free public universities RufusTFirefly May 2016 #105

Another Hillary Supports Weighs in. Silver_Witch May 2016 #108

Who is talking about checks being cut to individuals? See post #9. brush May 2016 #139

No. Throd May 2016 #13

Of course not. FLPanhandle May 2016 #16

My mother's side of the family was in Nagasaki. However, that does not preclude my being Katashi_itto May 2016 #20

Be aware of past injustices FLPanhandle May 2016 #23

Your analysis is flawed. kwassa May 2016 #27

I'm not trying to compare level of injustice FLPanhandle May 2016 #29

The crimes are still being committed. kwassa May 2016 #44

So, because racism isn't over, it's reparations forever? FLPanhandle May 2016 #63

I didn't say reparations forever. kwassa May 2016 #67

I would say both have no case for reparations. FLPanhandle May 2016 #90

The reparations are for racism and oppression, not slavery. kwassa May 2016 #121

"Neither women or Appalachians were held as slaves" FLPanhandle May 2016 #123

The past is tied to the present .... kwassa May 2016 #142

So glad that many have more open minds than you brush May 2016 #144

I'm "close minded" to conclusions without logic FLPanhandle May 2016 #155

Very weak. The county not just segregated blacks it enslaved them. brush May 2016 #157

Those injustices from generations ago can not be remedied as all the participants are long dead FLPanhandle May 2016 #160

And African Americans are not still suffering from the legacy of racism and . . . brush May 2016 #162

Living Japanese Americans that were interned were compensated FLPanhandle May 2016 #163

There are millions of descendents enslaved people, and millions of descendents of . . . brush May 2016 #164

Sigh FLPanhandle May 2016 #165

You ignored the fact that Gemany compenstated descendents of the holocaust brush May 2016 #166

Weak. No one is talking about checks being cut to individuals brush May 2016 #143

Actually, some people are talking about checks to individuals FLPanhandle May 2016 #153

Sure, why not? Let's have one helluva logistical, economic, and social nightmare! Wheeee! WinkyDink May 2016 #17

Message auto-removed Name removed May 2016 #22

Yes. It is long overdue. guillaumeb May 2016 #26

It doesn't have to be cash payments LuckyTheDog May 2016 #51

Yes... Agnosticsherbet May 2016 #28

Nope - Keep reading OP - I think you might like this ;-) JustAnotherGen May 2016 #30

Can any reasonable argument be made against it? scscholar May 2016 #31

No. But there should be something else. Ready4Change May 2016 #33

I don't know what we should do with regard to monetary reparations for past atrocities. Maedhros May 2016 #35

The way to do that is through empowering blacks with scholarships, business grants, and home craigmatic May 2016 #94

Buiding the economic base of traditionally oppressed communities is central to Bernie Sanders' Maedhros May 2016 #106

No. linuxman May 2016 #36

Good post The2ndWheel May 2016 #42

I like a post based on logic instead of emotions FLPanhandle May 2016 #43

You are being ridiculous LuckyTheDog May 2016 #49

I'm just going to leave this here and let myself out. Glassunion May 2016 #58

Oh, I'm so sorry. I didn't know I was only to respond directly to the article. linuxman May 2016 #75

At the very least... LuckyTheDog May 2016 #149

you do not appear to understand what linuxman wrote Albertoo May 2016 #79

I understand what he wrote LuckyTheDog May 2016 #120

Would Obama be eligible for reparations? Albertoo May 2016 #125

Also... LuckyTheDog May 2016 #145

Just read the title of my post Albertoo May 2016 #168

Excellent post Albertoo May 2016 #80

no Logical May 2016 #95

I fully support hfojvt May 2016 #39

what is the desired end result? melm00se May 2016 #40

Rinse first! cherokeeprogressive May 2016 #50

Just for everyone's information Takket May 2016 #41

yes but it will never happen JI7 May 2016 #45

Folks make a lot of assumptions on what "reparations" exactly are. Other's just don't want a black Glassunion May 2016 #47

Yes. LuckyTheDog May 2016 #53

'the act of making amends, offering expiation, or giving satisfaction for a wrong or injury' TipTok May 2016 #70

Jim Crow lasted well into my parent's lifetime. Glassunion May 2016 #73

Why not, but let the info be exhaustive, not just a caucasians' bashing Albertoo May 2016 #124

Therein lies the rub, and most why likely nothing will be done. Glassunion May 2016 #138

We are halfway on common ground Albertoo May 2016 #167

What excuse beyond having a sad, would explain why tens of thousands of people Glassunion May 2016 #172

Who would be entitled? One question at a time. That should be the first. cherokeeprogressive May 2016 #60

No, the US government fought a war to end it AgingAmerican May 2016 #61

What war did the US government fight to end Jim Crow? Glassunion May 2016 #64

Which war did the US government fight to end slavery? AgingAmerican May 2016 #84

No I do not notice a correlation between states that had Jim Crow laws, and former slave states. Glassunion May 2016 #116

One of the most ridiculous post GulfCoast66 May 2016 #83

What was the Civil War about? AgingAmerican May 2016 #85

Slavery was an American issue GulfCoast66 May 2016 #86

I have no problem with the states that had slavery paying reparations AgingAmerican May 2016 #87

Ok. And I support your right to that opinion GulfCoast66 May 2016 #88

If they allowed slaves then they should pay AgingAmerican May 2016 #89

Ok. GulfCoast66 May 2016 #91

Any states that had slaves should pay AgingAmerican May 2016 #96

So not a southern thing after all GulfCoast66 May 2016 #98

The core of it is southern AgingAmerican May 2016 #99

Changing your mind? GulfCoast66 May 2016 #104

Not at all AgingAmerican May 2016 #110

On which planet? Matrosov May 2016 #140

This would be impossible thus making it ridiculous to consider. NightWatcher May 2016 #62

The linked article addresses your entire post. It is not ridiculous to consider. Glassunion May 2016 #65

Will never happen davidn3600 May 2016 #66

Yes. Starry Messenger May 2016 #68

Maybe you should fund a study to see if water is wet... TipTok May 2016 #71

And I can start a petition for world peace Travis_0004 May 2016 #102

You won't though. Starry Messenger May 2016 #103

you are correct Travis_0004 May 2016 #107

Well, considering how things are going in detroit, perhaps. Starry Messenger May 2016 #109

Silly at best... TipTok May 2016 #69

Yes, we should Bradical79 May 2016 #72

No n/t doc03 May 2016 #76

Yes. nt ZombieHorde May 2016 #77

This old white man believes reparations are indeed due and payable. And not silvershadow May 2016 #78

What reduction in your Social Security would you be willing to accept, Nye Bevan May 2016 #111

None, thank you. I'm actually expecting a much-needed raise, as you know, due silvershadow May 2016 #112

So you're all in favor of white Americans paying reparations to black Americans, Nye Bevan May 2016 #119

That is correct. Let those with all the money pay it. I'm disabled and barely silvershadow May 2016 #128

Many DUers are for higher taxes Democat May 2016 #170

And the wealthiest among us are able to make sure they are never included when taxes go up. Ace Rothstein May 2016 #173

Why is the amount the relevant argument? kwassa May 2016 #122

60% of the US budget goes to military spending. wickerwoman May 2016 #169

Nope TeddyR May 2016 #81

Probably not direct monetary "reparations", but MH1 May 2016 #92

Yes both ruined the wealth base that we tried to build and several generations of positive black craigmatic May 2016 #93

no, not at this point. However, oldandhappy May 2016 #101

no because its a slippery slope; ericson00 May 2016 #113

So sad when there are people whose lives are so empty they have time to throw out threads like this Judi Lynn May 2016 #114

"Ghastly, whitish, sallow color"? Racist much? Nye Bevan May 2016 #118

I know, it's sad that kiva May 2016 #127

Excuse me? TrappedInUtah May 2016 #130

"rejoice in their whiteness" Democat May 2016 #171

IMO, no and yes, respectively Recursion May 2016 #115

How? cagefreesoylentgreen May 2016 #117

That's a good point too. Zing Zing Zingbah May 2016 #129

I know right TrappedInUtah May 2016 #132

If this were to ever happen I wonder how they would determine who would qualify. Zing Zing Zingbah May 2016 #126

Sigh. LuckyTheDog May 2016 #148

No. 840high May 2016 #147

Let's try funding the programs we have XemaSab May 2016 #152

Fortunately ... LuckyTheDog May 2016 #154

And yes, I am aware that not all black kids are poor and live in the inner city XemaSab May 2016 #156

I'd like a Cabinet level position/department about Racial Inequality Prism May 2016 #161

yes, especially for after slaves were free. They were like new immigrants, many owned land, homes Sunlei May 2016 #174