(no subject)
So what's the deal with reparations for African Americans?
Are they solely limited to monetary payments to African American families? Do they have to prove in some way that their ancestors are slaves, and do they only recieve money from those proven to have held / been involved in the slave trade? (Wachovia comes to mind.)
On face value, it doesn't seem like something that'll benefit anti-racism as a whole, but perhaps that's not the point of reparations movements. It seems as though when that word comes out, most people view it as "hand-outs" to the African American community.
In trying to improve any underserved demographic, I never think that it's a good idea to just dole out cash. Rather, it seems that a better way would be to improve/enhance/change the systems of welfare/social programs in order to put the underserved on a level playing field. If the point of reparations is to help those affected by slavery get on a sustainable track wouldn't it be best to invest that money in programs that would benefit them? Or would that mean that some of the money would be used wrongfully on other underserved populations? Is that money for blacks only? I'm not sure of the goals.
A slight tangent: When anything related to AA/reparations is brought up to a white group, generally people will say that since they were't involved in slavery that they shouldn't be held responsible in contributing tax dollars to reparations. My family never held slaves either, and in some sense that strengthens my opinion that doling out cash is the wrong way to go. I don't think that I or any other white folks who weren't involved in slavery should have to pay reparations.
However, in another sense, we're all part of an economy that supported it, aren't we? It goes along with the police officer "just doing his job," a classic defense in many cases of explicit police brutality. My family came here when there was slavery, they probably bought products that were manufactured by places that held slaves, invested in companies who's owners held slaves.. shouldn't we, as taxpayers, contribute to social welfare programs that benefit the underserved?
I think the biggest problem with Affirmative Action/reparations/anything of this sort is that it doesn't do anything to end/suppress racism. This might fall into the "won't somebody think of the White people" problem that I'd like to avoid, but in all honesty, how can racism end without the education and support of the overwhelming majority of the population?
Perhaps, though, that's not the point of AA. Obviously something has to be done to stop the institutional racism and privilege, but what is being done to stop the social parts? When will white people stop pointing to Oprah and saying "Hey black folks, if she can do it so can you?" Under that reasoning, why isn't my father as rich as Bill Gates? Perhaps there needs to be change in black communities too, but I can't speak on their behalf.
I find it funny that people say that African Americans don't want help based on the fact that crime rates are higher around areas where people of color live. Take their race away and look at the poverty. Compare it to similar poverty levels of other areas which are predominately white. Are the crime rates comprable? I wonder. Crime follows poverty, not race, and if equality is going to move anywhere white people need to realize that.
This changed topics a lot, heh. I suppose my question is what do we do? It's sort of like that episode of the Simpsons where Skinner is talking about the differences between women and men, and I think a lot of what he said definitely resonated with me, as a white person, going "ok what am I supposed to do?" *points to icon*
Are they solely limited to monetary payments to African American families? Do they have to prove in some way that their ancestors are slaves, and do they only recieve money from those proven to have held / been involved in the slave trade? (Wachovia comes to mind.)
On face value, it doesn't seem like something that'll benefit anti-racism as a whole, but perhaps that's not the point of reparations movements. It seems as though when that word comes out, most people view it as "hand-outs" to the African American community.
In trying to improve any underserved demographic, I never think that it's a good idea to just dole out cash. Rather, it seems that a better way would be to improve/enhance/change the systems of welfare/social programs in order to put the underserved on a level playing field. If the point of reparations is to help those affected by slavery get on a sustainable track wouldn't it be best to invest that money in programs that would benefit them? Or would that mean that some of the money would be used wrongfully on other underserved populations? Is that money for blacks only? I'm not sure of the goals.
A slight tangent: When anything related to AA/reparations is brought up to a white group, generally people will say that since they were't involved in slavery that they shouldn't be held responsible in contributing tax dollars to reparations. My family never held slaves either, and in some sense that strengthens my opinion that doling out cash is the wrong way to go. I don't think that I or any other white folks who weren't involved in slavery should have to pay reparations.
However, in another sense, we're all part of an economy that supported it, aren't we? It goes along with the police officer "just doing his job," a classic defense in many cases of explicit police brutality. My family came here when there was slavery, they probably bought products that were manufactured by places that held slaves, invested in companies who's owners held slaves.. shouldn't we, as taxpayers, contribute to social welfare programs that benefit the underserved?
I think the biggest problem with Affirmative Action/reparations/anything of this sort is that it doesn't do anything to end/suppress racism. This might fall into the "won't somebody think of the White people" problem that I'd like to avoid, but in all honesty, how can racism end without the education and support of the overwhelming majority of the population?
Perhaps, though, that's not the point of AA. Obviously something has to be done to stop the institutional racism and privilege, but what is being done to stop the social parts? When will white people stop pointing to Oprah and saying "Hey black folks, if she can do it so can you?" Under that reasoning, why isn't my father as rich as Bill Gates? Perhaps there needs to be change in black communities too, but I can't speak on their behalf.
I find it funny that people say that African Americans don't want help based on the fact that crime rates are higher around areas where people of color live. Take their race away and look at the poverty. Compare it to similar poverty levels of other areas which are predominately white. Are the crime rates comprable? I wonder. Crime follows poverty, not race, and if equality is going to move anywhere white people need to realize that.
This changed topics a lot, heh. I suppose my question is what do we do? It's sort of like that episode of the Simpsons where Skinner is talking about the differences between women and men, and I think a lot of what he said definitely resonated with me, as a white person, going "ok what am I supposed to do?" *points to icon*