5 ms·

To even take it a step further, like me, a lot of people's ancestors we're not even in the US when slavery was going on.

nvahalik 3y ago
On top of that… many “whites” were oppressed or in servitude in European countries and came to America for freedom.
- tourmalinetaco 3y ago
  And many Irish were enslaved in America as well.
mynameishere 3y ago
Or, a step further, a lot of people's ancestors died in the Union army. That said. I'd actually be okay with reparations if they did the accounting properly. Step one: Look at the median income in Sierra Leone. Step 2: Look at the equivalent black income in the United States. Find the difference. I'll take cash or check.
- nvahalik 3y ago
  Reparations makes absolutely zero sense. You cannot "improve relations" or "make whole" simply by taking money from one nameless, faceless group and give it to another nameless, faceless group. Real "making whole" happens at a personal level. It involves people dealing with local issues and also an understanding nobody is 100% in the right. We all have problems—we ALL (white, black, brown, etc)—contribute to various societal ills. We all have to be able to look at each other, and openly and honestly bring truth and healing where it can be. "Racial reconciliation" can't happen at the "racial" level.
  - red-iron-pine 3y ago
    > Reparations makes absolutely zero sense. You cannot "improve relations" or "make whole" simply by taking money from one nameless, faceless group and give it to another nameless, faceless group. It's a coinvent way of burying the issue: Reperations Paid, racism is now over. No need to make other systemic changes to things like minimum wage or healthcare.
    - nvahalik 3y ago
      > No need to make other systemic changes Which, IMO, is the real tragedy of all of this. You're right we do need to make changes. But those changes don't just affect _blacks_. They affect _everyone_. People made it a racism issue, but in many way it's not. There are plenty of poor white an brown folks that deal with many of the systemic issues too. They just aren't politically convenient.
troupe 3y ago
Curious how they are going to handle someone whose lineage includes someone who was brought to the US as a slave on one side and on the other an Ashanti of the upper class who got rich of selling slaves to the Portuguese. Do they only get half the money? Does their ancestors offense offset the payment entirely? Do they have to pay more because they were descended from people who did the original enslavement?
- ksaun 3y ago
  I don't think the type of reparations discussed in the article are an attempt to punish. I don't see any mention of one's ancestors' offenses (or lack thereof) being considered. It's about compensating those who are believed to have suffered.
  - porkbeer 3y ago
    Your logic is flawed, just who is compensating them?
  - red-iron-pine 3y ago
    You can't say there wasn't racism in California, I'm sure there was / is, but it wasn't like the Deep South where Jim Crow make sure black folks couldn't get ahead.
flashgordon 3y ago
And how about folks who themselves were from a colonized nation?

nvahalik 3y ago

On top of that… many “whites” were oppressed or in servitude in European countries and came to America for freedom.

tourmalinetaco 3y ago
And many Irish were enslaved in America as well.

mynameishere 3y ago

Or, a step further, a lot of people's ancestors died in the Union army. That said. I'd actually be okay with reparations if they did the accounting properly. Step one: Look at the median income in Sierra Leone. Step 2: Look at the equivalent black income in the United States. Find the difference. I'll take cash or check.

nvahalik 3y ago
Reparations makes absolutely zero sense. You cannot "improve relations" or "make whole" simply by taking money from one nameless, faceless group and give it to another nameless, faceless group. Real "making whole" happens at a personal level. It involves people dealing with local issues and also an understanding nobody is 100% in the right. We all have problems—we ALL (white, black, brown, etc)—contribute to various societal ills. We all have to be able to look at each other, and openly and honestly bring truth and healing where it can be. "Racial reconciliation" can't happen at the "racial" level.
- red-iron-pine 3y ago
  > Reparations makes absolutely zero sense. You cannot "improve relations" or "make whole" simply by taking money from one nameless, faceless group and give it to another nameless, faceless group. It's a coinvent way of burying the issue: Reperations Paid, racism is now over. No need to make other systemic changes to things like minimum wage or healthcare.
  - nvahalik 3y ago
    > No need to make other systemic changes Which, IMO, is the real tragedy of all of this. You're right we do need to make changes. But those changes don't just affect _blacks_. They affect _everyone_. People made it a racism issue, but in many way it's not. There are plenty of poor white an brown folks that deal with many of the systemic issues too. They just aren't politically convenient.

troupe 3y ago

Curious how they are going to handle someone whose lineage includes someone who was brought to the US as a slave on one side and on the other an Ashanti of the upper class who got rich of selling slaves to the Portuguese. Do they only get half the money? Does their ancestors offense offset the payment entirely? Do they have to pay more because they were descended from people who did the original enslavement?

ksaun 3y ago
I don't think the type of reparations discussed in the article are an attempt to punish. I don't see any mention of one's ancestors' offenses (or lack thereof) being considered. It's about compensating those who are believed to have suffered.
- porkbeer 3y ago
  Your logic is flawed, just who is compensating them?
- red-iron-pine 3y ago
  You can't say there wasn't racism in California, I'm sure there was / is, but it wasn't like the Deep South where Jim Crow make sure black folks couldn't get ahead.

flashgordon 3y ago

And how about folks who themselves were from a colonized nation?