Reparations for Slavery in America

From time to time the subject of the payment of reparations for black slavery in America comes up. Politically, this issue is a non-starter. No mainstream politician is willing to embrace the matter. Generally, politicians prefer to change the topic.

To have any sort of meaningful conversation on the subject there are several problems which must be faced squarely. Avoidance of any of these issues derails the entire discussion. Unfortunately, people to prefer to cherry pick the different aspects of the problem and only present those concerns that support their own agenda.

Here are the key points I see that need to be included in any meaningful discussion:

1) Kidnapping people, taking them from their homeland, depriving them of their liberty, and subjugating them to the whim and will of others through no fault of the victims is a crime against humanity.

2) Slavery is vile, immoral, evil, wicked, deplorable, and inhumane.

3) Though against their will slaves made a significant contribution to American life and culture.

4) Justice cries for restitution.

5) None of the slaves who were brought to America are alive today.

6) No one living in America today was born in slavery.

7) All those who engaged in the slave trade in America have died.

8) None of those living in America today ever held slaves.

9) It is not possible to make direct amends to the victims of slavery who are now dead.

10) It is wrong to hold anyone who did not participate in a crime and who had no power to stop it accountable for the acts of others who did.

There are those who would argue that while direct restitution to the slaves is not possible, it is acceptable to make reparation payments to their descendants. Unfortunately, these payments would be a defacto punishment of others who were not even alive when the atrocity of slavery was being committed. This would seem to be creating a new injustice to make up for an old one.

The advocates for reparations for slavery argue that placing this burden on people who did not directly participate in slave ownership is okay. The reason they say it is okay is because the descendants of slave holders have inherited the benefits of the slavery institution in the passed down quality of their lives. There is some merit to this concept.

However, it is also true that the descendants of slaves have also benefited from the contributions their ancestors made to our society at large. Furthermore, compared against the average member of the population of the slave ancestral homeland, many of the slave descendants are actually much better off. Any honest discussion of inherited benefits must not ignore these facts.

Since all the direct victims and perpetrators of the black slave trade in America are dead, and since the descendants of the victims are generally fairing better than they would be if their ancestors had remained in their homeland, no reasonable calculation of reparations can be determined.

If this were a civil lawsuit, it would be a situation where actual damages to the claimant could not be assessed. Any other damages would be punitive in nature. Since people who did not commit the crime should not be punished, no award would be given. The case would be dismissed.

Saying that nothing can (or, at this point, should) be done regarding monetary reparations for slavery in America does not ignore the injustice that was done. We should honor the memory of the slaves and their contributions. We must dedicate ourselves to eliminating all aspects of racism in our society. We must all build on the lessons of the past and seek to promote respect and equality before the law for everyone. Living for freedom and justice for all is the best reparations that our society can make.

That's Wade's two cents.

Wade Houston
October 6, 2007