Reparations for Slavery in the 1800’s? Who Decides?

By Frosty Wooldridge

March 30, 2023

Part 2: Who gets what? Who earned it? Who pays? Who does it benefit?

“America’s African-American citizens are the richest and most privileged black people alive – a bounty that is a direct result of the heritage that is under assault. The American idea needs the support of its African-American citizens. But African-Americans also need the support of the American idea. For it is this idea that led to the principles and institutions that have set African-Americans – and all of us – free.” —David Horowitz

If you look at Africa, you see horrific diseases like HIV that have killed over 15 million Africans. If you look at genocidal wars of the Hutsi’s and Tutsi’s, you cannot help but shudder if you lived in Africa. If you look at the hundreds of thousands living in huts and starving to death, it’s a sure bet that no African-American would choose to live in Africa in 2023.

One reader responded, “The biggest problem as I see it is culture. The evolution of each culture and if there is a tribal component to a culture, how it influences assimilation. All cultures are not created equal and their values differ. Then throw in a color difference and for some unknown reason, whether it is evolutionary, learned or emotional, it seems to add fuel to already existing friction.

“Look at the American Indians and the waring between tribes even though they were so closely related. There must be something deep inside our primal makeup that switches on and causes conflict, and in some cases, hate. We know it can be overcome by working together but if the difference is accentuated, it drives a wedge deeper and separates further.

“Right now, there are organizations that strive to separate, like BLM, NAACP, repatriation pushers and others that destroy any progress made in our immediate past. Then throw in the ignorant government scumbags that destroy the black families with free money and you get 70 plus percent black kids with no fathers in the house and a gang culture to further divide and foster hate and crime.”

David Horowitz also wrote ten reasons why reparations would be a very bad thing for American blacks. I couldn’t argue with any of them. We already know that the “Great Society” welfare state has caused enormous harm to black Americans. Those 7 out of 10 black babies without fathers has created a lost youth bent on shoplifting, drugs and illiteracy from dropping out of school. There’s no way any person can function in modern American society without being able to read, write, think, and perform simple math.

My black friend added, “Second, focus on the problem, stay at the principled level, don’t propose temporary solutions to solve symptoms. Address the real problem as “racism” and by the way, if we were as smart as we say we are, why wouldn’t a solution to discuss race help all minority groups and minority religions. Why should we as a nation come up with a solution that, in some people’s mind, make African Americans well, at the expense of Americans who are Jewish, Muslim, Asian, Indigenous….etc. Shouldn’t we address the issues as a whole not just one part. So, any solution that we discuss that would help racism against black Americans in my mind would also have to help on going racism against other ethnic groups and bring everyone in our country forward.”

To which I ask the question: what about black racism against white people? There’s a whole lot of it across the board in the entertainment community, at work where blacks dominate the workforce, and even in Congress with the Black Caucus among dozens of other completely black groups. If you’re white, you wouldn’t choose to walk the streets of Somaliland in Minneapolis, Minnesota or in south Chicago during the day or night. So, if blacks can enjoy all-black housing areas and groups, why is it racist for whites to enjoy their own groups?

My black friend responded, “I don’t expect your view to align with mine, I just wanted to explain myself and why I did, what I did. By the way, this is not a democrat or republican issue, it’s an American issue, both parties need to eliminate the aisle and come together to work toward, not necessarily completely solving, but work toward reducing the racism experienced by many in America.”

“If you have come to help me you are wasting your time. But if you recognize that your liberation and mine are bound up together, we can walk together.” —Lilla Watson, activist and visual artist

Like it or not, America is becoming a minority-minority civilization. Within 25 years, there will no longer be a white majority. What do I see as a world traveler who has witnessed such societies? If places like India are any indication, we are in for a bumpy, conflicted and very rough ride.

Whatever happens to America in this 21st century, I hope we educate our youth and our adults toward a positive acceptance and respect for one another. We don’t have to be forced to like each other or live with each other; however, we must at least tolerate our basic tribal differences…and move forward, peacefully.

E-Mail Frosty: frostyw@juno.com