Slavery Reparations - Essay Example

debating SLAVERY REPARATIONS INSERT INSERT debating SLAVERY REPARATIONS The United s of America is arguably the most prosperous country in the world and has developed incredibly quickly with a legacy of freedom, liberty and egalitarianism. Despite an economic situation which has been the envy of most of the world for the past sixty years and a high standard of living which has weathered the most recent economic storm, the United States also has a shameful legacy of slavery. While seen by millions around the world as a beacon for freedom and liberty, the servitude of African-Americans in this country is an infamous chapter in the annals of American history. While America evolved using the concept of freedom and liberty brought forth by the British, early American development was built on the backs of slave labor. Many of America’s founders – paternalistically referred to as the Fathers of Independence – were slaveholders themselves and their concepts of freedom pertained only to certain types of people. Most often, “freedom” was limited and not a god-given right. Thus, in America liberty and freedom were terms which routinely excluded non-whites, women and white men without property. Thus, this concept of freedom, so engrained in the American psyche and so much a part of the American historical narrative, was a limited sort of freedom which was inherently exclusionary and certainly not universal. Although American slavery was abolished more than one hundred and fifty years ago, the legacy of slavery continues to have important ramifications on the lives of African-Americans today. The ramifications of the servitude of African-Americans in this country can be felt in the social, economic and political realms and American history remains tarnished by the shameful legacy of slavery. Today, there are some who argue for reparations to the African-American community for the insidious legacy of involuntary servitude in this country. Seeking to explore the argument for slavery reparations in the 21st century, the following will analyze Robert Tracinski’s arguments against slavery reparations and explore the reasons both for and against reparations. We now turn to an overview of Robert Tracinski’s arguments against slavery reparations. In a recent article in the well-respected Intellectual Activist, Robert Tracinski emphatically argues that the United States cannot and should not pay reparations for something which existed generations ago. Accordingly, this author takes a variety of controversial stances on the issue of slavery reparations which will be explored below. Importantly, Tracinski rightly claims that there are no African-Americans in this country today who were laves and controversially argues that there is a spurious correlation between slavery a hundred and fifty years ago and the plight of African-Americans today. Thus, we argues that “reparations would be a gross injustice, punishing innocent people for a crime they did not commit. Even worse, the campaign for reparations will not "heal the wounds of slavery" but will perpetuate racial conflict” (Tracinski, 2003). What are the major claims made by this scholar in his impassioned argument against reparations? First and foremost, the argument against reparations is about justice and the promotion of equality in society today. Accordingly, reparations to African-Americans in the twenty-first century would be unjust, according to this scholar, and promote racial disharmony in the United States. Following this line of argument, Tracinski argues that one cannot hold the entire white American community responsible for slavery more than a century and a half ago because this would be collective punishment for a wrong committed many generations ago. While implicitly agreeing that if a former slave were alive today he or she would be entitled to reparations from the United States government, Tracinski demonstrates that no such person exists and the defendants of slaves cannot reasonably expect to be compensated for the injustices undertaken against their forefathers. Because blacks today did not experience servitude, they are not entitled to any form of compensation. Describing it as “racial collectivism”, this scholar argues that one cannot blame “white America” for the injustices which occurred so long ago because “white America” is a fictitious concept and one which has evolved tremendously since the days of slavery. Home of millions of immigrants, both black and white, it would be unfair to penalize so-called white Americans whose forefathers were over in England, France or Germany while slavery was being practice on the shores of the United States of America. Finally, this scholar asserts that by punishing one monolithic racial group and pitting it against another in this country, the reparations debate will do more to hurt race relations in this country than help repair them. Scholar Karl Zinsmeister agrees with Robert Tracinski and emphatically argues that “paying reparations to the descendants of African American slaves would not right the wrong of slavery because slaves and those who benefited from slavery are no longer living.” (Zinsmeister, 2004) This is the crux of Tracinski’s argument and is one which is frequently cited to deny the right of African-Americans today to slavery reparations. What do other scholars have to say about this controversial issue (Tracinski, 2003)? Robert C. Smith (2003), in his article in the Encyclopedia of African-American Politics, traces the history of the reparations movement in the United States to the early days of the post-Civil War era. Although Article 1 points out that the reparations movement in the United States has historically been considered a fringe movement, more than one hundred and fifty years after the abolition of slavery in this country, the debate seems to be gaining with respect to collective compensation for the wrongs of the past. Accordingly, the issue of slavery reparations in this country has been raised in Congress every year since 1989 by Michigan Congressman John Conyers (Smith, 2003). The movement has been gaining momentum, particular following the apologies and reparations paid to other groups which have suffered injustices such as Japanese-Americans who were interred in camps during the height of World War II (Smith, 2003). Utilizing the examples of the Japanese Americans who were interred and the German government’s decision to provide nearly $60 billion to the survivors of the Jewish Holocaust in Europe, Article 1 shows that the precedent for reparations exists. Accordingly, this precedent should be followed here in the United States despite the fact that the public is divided on the issue of slavery reparations. While 65% of African-Americans are for slavery reparations, 88% of whites do not believe in them. Importantly, proponents of slavery reparations argue that it is the right thing to do as African-Americans today must deal with the legacy of racial discrimination which was a feature of the slavery era. Article 1 shows us that slavery reparations are long overdue and are essential to help African-Americans today overcome the economic gap which is a feature of their existence in America. Thus, in order to help overcome the legacy of slavery and promote racial harmony, reparations are needed to heal old wounds and are long overdue. While the debate regarding reparations, in the form of financial remuneration for the American slavery rages on, it is important to remember that the United States of America has not formally apologized for slavery. Does the United States government have an obligation to apologize for its insidious treatment of blacks many generations ago? Article 2 emphatically argues that yes, the United States government “must take responsibility for its past and acknowledge the suffering of African slaves and their descendants”. At the very least, an apology is due. It is odd that an apology has not been given and Article 2 persuasively demonstrates that at the very least, an apology for slavery should be forthcoming by the United States government. While some private companies have already apologized for their roles in facilitating the slave trade, it is incumbent upon the United States to follow suit. It is the least it can do. The issue of slavery reparations in the 21st century remains mired in controversy. This essay has explored the arguments both for and against slavery reparations by looking at the arguments of Robert Tracinski as well as those with competing views on this topical issue. Slavery in America is out most shameful legacy and this must repent and move forward. By apologizing and providing financial compensation to the descendents of slaves, the United States can finally address the racial inequalities which have plagued this nation since its inception. Slavery reparations are the right thing to do and it is incumbent upon us to right past wrongs. REFRENCES Article 1 Article 2 Smith, R C. (2003). "Reparations." Encyclopedia of African-American Politics. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2003. African-American History Online. Facts on File, Inc. http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp? ItemID=WE01&iPin=EAAP0343&SingleRecord=True (accessed February 1, 2010). Tracinski, R. (2003). "The United States Should Not Pay Reparations for Slavery." Opposing Viewpoints: Discrimination. Ed. M. E. Williams. San Diego: Greenhaven Press Zinsmeister, K. (2004). "Reparations Should Not Be Paid to Descendants of African American Slaves." At Issue: Slavery Today. Ed. A. Ojeda. San Diego: Greenhaven Press. Read More