Time for Reparations? Faith Leaders Meet to Discuss

Wellness Counselor

I am saddened that the world is so blind. “Fools mock at sin, but among the upright there is favor.” ( Proverbs 14:9)

Slavery was an atrocity. The residual effect has continued to impact generations. Because of slavery many were not educated and never learned to read. They could not teach their children and were ashamed. That proud feeling we have some never got to experience. Because of slavery many could not afford to buy a home. When God called them, hey had nothing to leave their children. For a large number, this generation will be the first of their family to own their home. Those who experienced the desegregation of the school system are alive today. I know a man who in his 70s, who still works by the grace of God, for the family that his father worked for, and his grandfather, and his grandfather. He considers the family his, but even still, when the position came available that he had been doing and was good at, it was given to an inexperienced stranger. My hope is that before his time, that generation sees a glimmer of hope, so they know that the world is getting better.

The trauma that has been passed down is very real and very unnecessary. This could have, and should have been addressed before now, so healing can begin to take place. This topic is being discussed. It is only a “consideration”. Their children were SOLD for goodness sake. Many don’t have an identity. Amends have to made to black families as well as native Americans. The culture of our society is disgusting… An apology is a rarity because we can’t put our pride to the side. “…First be reconciled to your brother, the come and offer your gift.” ( Matthew 5:24)

You can’t very well punch someone in the face and then ask God to forgive you and think you are absolved of accountability. You have to apologize and ask for forgiveness from the one you harmed before you ask God.

The moral law, which has the right to acquit or condemn, always demands restitution before mortals can “go up higher” Broken law brings penalty in order to compete this process. - (Mary Baker Eddy, Science and Health).

As I have said before and I say again…We are all rooting for you Pennsylvania! They are pioneering humanity’s growth.

Helen Claire -Estelle Nance

SLAVERY has NOT ENDED..!!...I say..'Reparations for Slavery, Jim Crow .[ I WAS BORN into and BLACK PERSON in AMERIKKKA was BORN INTO [Charleston.SC. and under until the 1960's.............and Reparations due Now ..for.. the continual....PENAL SLAVERY ...The neverended Slavery[ Injustice] for the Racial subclass of Africans...SLAVERY has NOT ENDED..!!.......... 13TH AMENDMENT must be ratified to ELIMINTATE ..PENAL SLAVERY....!!!!!!

Helen Claire -Estelle Nance

I am very happy to see how the System of White Supremacy /Racism is NOT GOING TO HIDE its face any longer...SO NO MORE relating the legacy of African prisoners of WAR or the institution of American Bondage /Slavery...I was born in the 1960's in Charleston S.C...near Berks HS.... under the Black Slave codes called Jim Crow/ the system of Apartheid and NOW ..Jim Crow is COMING BACK! or did it ever really LEAVE?.....The Civil Rights Act could never change the REAL HEARTS of Whyte FOLKS.. and Now you see it and ..it looks like ......most Whtye FOLKS APPROVE...Most Whyte folks WILL NEVER FIGHT BACK against the hiding of the HISTORY OF SLAVERY.....Hear that ?..just Silence and compliance...IT'S What you really want.....to return to Jim Crow amerikka... and Black folks are having their eyes opened..!! Malcolm told us .. he was a Prophet...;.... that this country ,will never do right by the Freedman/ the African....We demand :Reparations for the Slavery THAT NEVER ENDED.!!..We still have to fight as Freedmen against the continuing War on African people..

Doctor Loyal

If you are now or have been personally enslaved, you are due compensation from those that enslaved you. To consider that all whites should pay reparations is as absurd as saying that all Blacks and Hispanics are lazy and thieves. Absurdities aside, I neither was involved at any time in my life, nor did I consider slavery as anything but abhorrent. I checked as far back as possible and determined from the time my ancestors migrated to America in the early 1800s that they were never involved in any aspect with the "Slave Trade". I can not in good faith accept responsibility for reparations for actions I am not responsible for, as that would be lying, and feel that demanding money from me for those reparations is a form of coercion and theft.

Jon Brock

We can't give anyone who hasn't experienced the actual event reparations until we give something to Native Americans. We effectively siloed them and forgot about them - they aren't protesting and unfortunately aren't involved in the US govt, so they are forgotten. Let's see the US, states and cities pony up the billions needed to make them whole. Then we can talk about slavery.

As a side note - too ironic that Asheville NC gave money to blacks but are sitting on the ashes of so many Native Americans.

JWH

I see a lot of common sense answers here so I will keep my response short and to the point. There is likely no one alive today who was a slave or owned slaves. I don't think that monetary compensation to a person just because of their skin color is going to accomplish anything more than to drive the wedge that is being politically created deeper in between people and cause further hate and discontent. I think that the best thing that we as a country can do for all populations regardless of their skin color is to eliminate this politically invented wedge that for the most part does not exist and encourage people to love each other for who they are and not to look at their skin color. I personally believe that the absolute vast majority of Americans already do this. It is the politically motivated media that captures the radical ideas of a very small majority and that is the narrative that is pushed out to the public. I am not advocating for republicans, democrats or anyone else, I simply think that the majority of Americans already don't care about race and that the media coverage is actually causing more harm than it is good.

Kyle Taber

I agree with most, if not a slave then you don't get paid. So, no one will be getting anything. If the church wants it's congregation to pay for this then so be it but no way do we allow it to be a government responsibility.the US did not invent slavery.

John Alex Paxson

Only people who were actually slaves should get reparations, not siblings, or relatives. It looks like a money grab for people who don't care, they only care about CASH$$

Andre' Carl Bedard Winter

Slavery has nothing to do with so-called "White supremacism" there were more white slaves than African slaves in early America. Yes an indentured servant is a slave. Blacks sold blacks into slavery. Jews ran the slave trade. White Europeans had very little to do with the slave trade. If you want reparations go straight to Wall Street. Don't make it part of my tax bill. When humanity has the guts to address the Jewish problem of running slavery then you will know where to get your reparations from.

arawngraalrd

How about reparations for the exorbinant national debt? Don't you be spending my future on your regrets! Africans were brought to this country on questionable terms, but I don't see any hurry to move back to Africa.

Paul Edward Nunis

I still haven't seen a reparation movement that was inclusive to all groups treated badly in the past... just self serving ones.

ServantOfJudgement

Is a man guilty of his father's crime? If so, every soul on earth is guilty of every crime on earth. As some have mentioned on this site, slavery is not exclusive to any race or religion. All races have been slaves, sold slaves and owned slaves with zero exceptions. Such slavery strongly exists today across the globe. It is tolerated and relied upon by all nations and peoples. Therefore reparations cannot be about slavery because those that are in favor of reparations buy and use goods produced by slave labor.

Reparations is a tool devised and used to divide a people and stand them against one another. One side will be angry until they get it and the other side will be angry once they must pay for it. Eternal conflict is against the will of God yet the wish of Satan. Reparations guarantee eternal conflict, therefore Satan is the creator of its concept and orchistrator of its execution.

On a personal note, I am the 6th generation of slaves sold by England to the Colonies in 1747. My kin gave their life during the Civil War in defense of free men illegally made slaves as sited in our founding document. All men are created equal means no to slavery.

Today, are all men created equal? If yes then the new form of slavery, which is reparations, must be denied.

Tom

Faith leaders in Pennsylvania: "We should look into how our congregations can pay reparations to the Black community."

Commenters on this blog: " HOW DARE THE GOVERNMENT CONSIDER GIVING PEOPLE FREE MONEY!!!1!

Maybe read the whole article in the future and work on your reading comprehension?

ServantOfJudgement

Is a man guilty of his father's crime? If so then every soul on earth is guilt of every crime on earth.

Joe Weiss

My family (great great grandmother, great great grandfather, and their parents before them) on my fathers side were indentured servants. Their daughter escaped servitude during WW2. My great grand mother on my mothers side was also an indentured servant. My grand mother on my mother side was sold as a child, and subsequently released from servitude as an adult. Neither of my ancestors were free by any sense of the word. But there is a difference. They suffered their fate in Europe. My fathers side is from Germany/Russia. And my mother is French. I am a first generation American. Should if everyone is getting reparations when does my family get theirs? By the way, I am white, and my family is white. Slavery didn’t just happen to people of color. It happened to poor people of all walks of life.

Corinna Reich-Girdner

MO! We do not owe the descendants anything. Only those who actually owned slaves owe those who were actually slaves. The young people today, black or white, seem to feel they are entitled to compensation for what their ancestors went through. I, nor my family before me, owned slaves. Stop giving in to these entitled brats. They need to start learning how to work for what they want instead of riding off of someone else's back. They also need to brush up on their history. So many Africans were sold by their own tribal chiefs for profit and gain. There were also indentured whites as well as blacks who contracted themselves out for passage fare.

P. Keith Benefiel

Leave color out of it. Equal access to education, health care and capital for all . We'll work it out ourselves.

Guy Sutherland McLaren

I have not been enslaved, nor have I enslaved. My Parents were not enslaved, nor did they enslave and I can go back 5 generations at the very least, If anyone can show enslavement within those generations, by all means, but wanting compensation for stuff done more than 150 years ago seems like a wrong.

Caleb McKean

They murdered my family in 1831 for their gold,Thomas McKean 1776-1831 and Thomas McKean 1799-1831. I really dont owe anybody anything here but I also dont pay taxes so might as well let taxpayers pay reparation

James Edward Baker

Force those who never owned a slave to pay those who were never a slave

Robert C Fournier

HI ALL let us think about this. How about the Blacks that had slaves? no one ever mentions that do they.? In Louisiana And white folks worked for the Black slave owners. Perhaps white people should also have reparations,,,..? In addition the USA was the first country in the world to denounce slavery.Remember Abraham Lincoln (R)? Other country's still have slaves. In conclusion I do not think that this is issue is as bad as people think and to add to that I also think that people of color are a victum of our political society namely democrats that wish to keep them enslaved and on the dole for votes. The entire system is politically motivated and CORRUPT. Open your eyes people,Look beyond the end of your nose.

Moses came down from the mount and gave us the 10 commandments . Is that bad? It is so simple to live like that is it not?. Thank You

Sekani Atsu Perkins

Reparations are routine in this country it's not a radical concept....

https://youtu.be/HyUAg0_Gtpc

Marion Wolfe

Strange, I have yet to read a comment on here arguing against it that does not use rhetoric rooted in racist conspiracies or ideologies. But watch the same individuals get their panties in a twist now that it's been pointed out.

Noreen Stadtler-Urban

What about the Irish and Scottish who were the first slave brought to America? They were brought here by England. They are documented as the first slaves to enter and they are not asking for retributions from the government .

Noreen Stadtler-Urban

I wonder if the Irish, Scottish will receive this too. They are documented as the first slaves brought to this country. They are forgotten too.

Mary Haviland

Blacks has got reparations, it's called affirmative action. Also ifm you want reparations then get it from the real people who caused you to be enslaved, the kazerian mifia. The Rothschilds. Many of us you think you want reperations from not only had no slaves, but we're most likely made into slaves ourselves. In fact, I think us descendents of Israelites should get reparations from you blacks who enslaved us in Egypt for twice as long as you will were slaves for. And you all blacks were way more cruel to the Israelites then how you all were treated. In fact many black were treated better then the Irish slaves were treated. So go to the Rothschild's for your reparation. They started the slave market.

Leslie W Dalton Jr

The problem is how. Any action that involves money will create inequality as well as more hate. Them that "have" will get more and them that "don't have" will be left out. Lawyers will put ads on TV for class action a la drinking water at the Marine base. Whites will claim to be part black and other means of fraud. Morality cannot be legislated.

Leslie W Dalton Jr

The problem is how. Any action that involves money will create inequality as well as more hate. Them that "have" will get more and them that "don't have" will be left out. Lawyers will put ads on TV for class action a la drinking water at the Marine base. Whites will claim to be part black and other means of fraud. Morality cannot be legislated.

Jeffrey Stoecker

And another thing... Big corporations and the 1% surely benefited most from what past slavery built. If a payout happens, descendants of slavery's victims will be more comfortable for a while. But it's the realtors, car dealerships, HMO's, and Walmart that will scoop up the lion's share of that money. Essentially, big corp and the 1% will have benefited twice -- once from past slavery and then again from its reparations.

Jeffrey Stoecker

I don't fault the people who might benefit from reparations at all. In fact, I wish them luck. That being said, the whole thing seems unworkable to me. Everybody is going to be pointing at somebody else, saying they should pay -- not my family, or we should have gotten more than them. It's going to be a divisive mess.

My Great Great Grandfather paid to end slavery with his leg and his brother with an eye. Am I off the hook for that? How much is deducted from my family's reparations tally for participating in the underground railroad? And how would I prove their participation?

My 10th great-grandfather was a Barbary Pirate that enslaved thousands of white Europeans. Are there discounts for being descended from an "equal opportunity enslaver"? And, under this reparation rationale, could that Icelandic villiage my ancestor raided come back and sue me 9 generations later?

It's just nuts.

Robin Call

Are Blacks going to demand reparations from Africa who sold their prisoners as slaves/ indentured servants to the Middle East, Europe, and then to the United States ? Are Blacks going to demand reparations also from The Middle East, and Europe or just from The United States?

Robin Call

A lot of those plantations gave their slaves a piece of land to live on and farm for themselves. They would work for the plantation owners during the day and then go back to their homes and farm their land.

Robin Call

Blacks owned slaves during that time in history too so why are whites being targeted to pay reparations. There were at least 53 Black farmers who owned slaves during the slavery era and Africa is still selling their people into slavery/ indentured servants.

Lionheart

I want reparations from the Romans invading, raping, and pillaging, my English homeland 2000 years ago. I somehow think that’s not going to happen🤔

🦁❤️

Minister Raydeen

Any time you hurt anyone, you should give forgiveness. Slaves did exist, black people built and invented a lot, And things got taken away from them., Land, Inventions And, Freedom. not saying MONEY will help, it will possible hurt more. Answer me when Moses freed the slaves, did not they had gold and jewelry to take with them? Did not the Most High tell them to take it? did not Mr. Lincoln give blacks 40 acre and a mule, then it was taken back and gave to confer ate solders? America do owe Blacks something.

Donnie Eugene Carr

It's just crazy, to hold anyone who wasn't present accountable for things that happened in the past. The best you should offer is a ticket to their homeland.

Rev Ned

Remember. If reparation is paid, it’s over. There can be no more complaints because reparation was made. “Be careful what you ask for…You might get it.”

Antonio Josue Galliano Peterson

If we are going to have reparations, we need to do this in a fair way.

First, anyone who came to America after slavery ended (or whose ancestors came after slavery ended) shouldn’t get repatriations. They chose to come to this “racist” country. Nobody forced them.

Next, we need to determine who should pay for reparations. Of course, black people shouldn’t pay because they are the oppressed. Neither should jewish people, Irish, Latinos, Asians, Native Americans, or any marginalized group.

Anyone whose descendants came to America after the end of slavery shouldn’t pay. For example, I am a fist generation American. My family wasn’t here when slavery occurred, so it shouldn’t pay. My wife moved here from Eastern Europe, so she shouldn’t pay… she deserves reparations for Stalin’s reign of Terror, but that’s another story.

Next, we need to do a DNA test of everyone who is left. White people have to pay the black people, but what if someone is mixed? Very few black people are 100% African, so they don’t deserve full reparations. In fact, if they are part white, they should have to pay some reparations because of the racists in their family tree.

So… if someone is 50/50 white/black, they pay nothing and get nothing. If someone is 49% African, they pay just a little, because they have more white DNA, but get a discount on the “white tax” because they get an African DNA discount.

But… I don’t think it even that cut and dry… If someone wants reparations, they should prove that they were actually extremely adversely affected by slavery. Anyone making more than the median income of Americans shouldn’t get anything.

Okay, enough crazy talk. If you can’t see the sarcasm in this post, you probably can’t see how preposterous the idea of actually implementing reparations is.

It doesn’t help to “right” the “wrongs” of the past if you are “wronging” more people in the process. In 100 years, will we need to pay reparations to all the white people we hurt by repairing the black people?

Linda Kay Stermer

I believe reparations are in order however, I do not believe that it is the United States that owes them. The African people sold their own children, men and women to the British and others who came looking to trade. The African tribes profited by selling their people and those they captured from other tribes. What is being done for the others who were brought to this continent as slaves. The Chinese, the English who were removed from the prisons and streets, and others who were captured. Many were promised land or shares but when they arrived they were denied those promises and many were kept against their will to continue as slaves. We have numerous races who were wronged. The Irish were also persecuted. Signs all over New York said the only thing worse than a N@#*% was an Irish. Reparations should be made by the country’s who committed the crimes. The British people profited greatly and the majority of the people who held slaves in the USA were British citizens who made their fortunes by coming to America and stealing the land, slaving it and going back to UK.

Matthew L. Feinberg

Reparations have been paid. Visit any Civil War era cemetery. I think the number is 600,000 dead.

Jimmy Patterson

If such a notion is seriously being considered then the World needs to back up and justify the same for Gods Children. Start with payments from Egypt and Babylon and work from there. England would be good as would be Spain and Portugal. Most of the Blacks in America that are promoting this nonsense are descendants of the South Sudanese. Perhaps a paid vacation to the land of their Ancestors would put a stop to this Satanic Nonsense.

Danny Phillip Bain

I owe the black community nothing. In the 70s, I lost two jobs due to affirmative action laws. Where are my reparations for being white, and partially Native American. I worked at a grocery store and at Whites Stores Inc. Go figure. I ended up enlisting in the military and made a career of it. Some of my best friends were black.... which demonstrates I was never a racist. Yet those jobs I lost in the 70s I lost because I was white. If anyone deserves reparations is Native Americans. They were truly thrown out of their homes and forced to live miserable lives.

Donald R. Wooster

no reparations. stop bleeding the system.

Michael Galloway

Yes, African Americans are only 13-14 percent of the population American doesn't need our taxes instead of sending a check we should be tax exempt. You still have racist people making laws to keep me down and stopping banks loans. So yes just give me the money I worked for at the end of the year let's start there.

Donald R. Wooster

reparations? nope. stop trying to bleed the system.......again.

David McHaley

As long as B.L.M. pay restitution for all the damage and assault they committed in 2020

David McHaley

I believe that reparations are due. But only if the African countries that hunted, caged, and sold these people to us and other countries pay. There would not have been slavery here if their own people hadn't hunted them in the first place.

Thomas A. Follis

Absolutely not. No way on Gods green earth. Shelling out money, land or property will, by no means, put an end to racism. It will only create racism. I for one am totally against this. This country has been paying out reparations in the form of welfare, benefits and freebies for at least 50-70 years now. If you failed to jump on that wagon, it’s not my fault. In fact, you should be required by law to pay that back to me. IMO also that we go to Ukraine and get our tax dollars back from them. As well as all the other country we’ve bailed out over the years. Don’t forget to hit up BLM to return all the money they stole from the very people that are waiting on reparations. As a youngster, I’ve walked many acres of cotton in Oklahoma myself. Who’s going to pay me? Again, paying out money to end racism IS NOT the answer and I will be no part of it.

ronald

maybe the best thing is a one way ticket back to Africa and let them live the way they were originally meant to live, we owe them nothing, they want to rewrite history and forget the war between the states let them return home

Michael G Woram

For most of American history, the society put a lot of effort into making the lives of black people as miserable and impoverished as possible. The worst of that is over but it does not absolve the society from the debt it has run up. Much of the wealth in today's society is inherited or is based upon growth of inherited wealth from one generation to the next for many generations. Because blacks were, until quite recently, prevented from accumulating any wealth, it stands to reason that the present-day wealth of blacks would be much less than that of whites, which indeed it is. The wealth that was extracted from blacks, went into white society and was handed down to future generations of whites which explains why the wealth of white society is ten times that of black society on a per capital basis. It is important to recognize that this is a societal obligation, not an individual one. No one alive today is responsible for this state of affairs, but they are the beneficiaries of it, nevertheless. So, while it is clear that the society has this debt, how this debt can be properly discharged is not. It will take considerable wisdom to figure out the best way to do this, but we cannot even get started on that until we acknowledge that there actually is a debt.

Christopher Martins Baum

I want reparations for all my descendants that were killed, maimed, blown apart, property lost, etc while fighting for the "human rights" of ALL people: Including slaves. I have NEVER heard any "thank you's" for the loss of life of the soldiers and families that suffered specifically fighting to abolish slavery. Seems to me its the same ol' rhetoric of "I want mine: yes, its always about me." Just give thanks to GOD that you are here and give GRACE to HIM : You wanna be Christian ? Emulate your SAVIOR.....Forgive our sins as we have forgiven the sins of others.... SHAME on ANYONE that accepts ANY reparations...You need to seriously look in a mirror. Maybe you should pray a little more....

David J Hebert

What is being discussed has been going on for centuries in almost every country on earth. Africans sold and killed each other based on tribal issues. Germans under Hitler committed sins against humanity in general and even more outrageous against the Jewish people specifically. Indentured servitude of whites throughout Europe were really no different than slaves from Africa. I believe in providing opportunities for growth and acceptance of all peoples regardless of ethnicity or religion but not reparations as is currently being discussed. Continued increases in opportunities is reparation. Two black professors did a research project a few years ago and they found that the US has provided more opportunities for people of color to succeed than any other country on earth. Are there pockets of intense racism? Absolutely. That racism is perpetrated by people of ALL races and religious backgrounds, no group is exempt. How people in this country rallied around Demar (Buffalo Bills player) is a much appreciated sign of how much people care about people. Reparations are and have been underway for a long time, just giving people money is not reparations.

Nicholas John Stricker

The black community owes reparations to every family of the 360,000 Union soldiers who died to end slavery.....that was the black communities reparations... ending slavery......

Whitt Sandra

If that’s the case then I’ll need reparations for the anti white movement that is going on right now, while I’m alive. I also want reparations for what happened to Jesus when he was crucified. Ludicrous right? I absolutely think this is all about feeling better about themselves while creating an even bigger divide than there already is. And….pretty sure they will benefit monetarily while trying to “do the right thing”.

Kathleen Miller

I totally agree with you Rev. Ken. You said it better than I could but the comments expressed are 100% the same. Revered Kathleen

Amante Tadique

No, that is the epitomy of racism, sold by blacks to whites, then living in the US, then wanting others to pay them for what happened to ancestors they dont even know or personally care about for their own benefit. there was worldwide slavery for about every race and culture at one point. The blacks should not be elevated to a god status when no other race group has ever had reparations paid. If there are any reparations it should be to the taxpayers who have funded free housing, health care, vouchers, etc for over half a century after LBJ admin passed the welfare act to specifically respond to rioting in the cities for appeasement as noted in the notes at that time. The dems continue it keeping them in the dependent status for more votes to keep it coming and that is the current slavery as pointed out by black spokes people, as if left to their own devices they would then have to compete and get ahead like everyone else instead of just existing.

William Moses

If the end result of reparations is to attempt to restore economic balance to our society, shouldn’t all economically disadvantaged persons be included?

Charles Jude Platt

REPERATIONS, not reservations from. Adam & Eve friends.

Charles Jude Platt

I think we all deserve reservations from Adam and Eve.

Daniel Joseph Morse

I won't pay a dime. Before my time. I won't apologize. Before my time. I won't give up a thing. Before my time.

Reverand Jim

Luke 19 is about a live individual who cheated other live individuals and how he paid them back. Don't get confused by the squeaky wheel. The dead are dead, and forgiveness is their only path available for them. We can not rectify past sins through penalizing people today. You seek to reward the alleged victims with things of this world. You need to re-evaluate yourselves. You need to forgive yourselves for allowing Satan to creep into your minds and shift your focus to trivial things. "Let the dead bury the dead."

Thomas A Barry

Irish Catholics came to this country and signs were posted “Irish Need Not Appy!” Italians were segregated at Ellis Island! Jewish people faced the worst atrocities deliberately inflicted on any.

We cannot pay reparations for a 5th generation, 3rd generation, etc… or anyone, simply because it will make some feel it’s a little something to make up for it.

We’ve made great strides in ALL forms of discrimination and equal rights… and we need to keep it moving forward. But paying someone for a wrong made during a different time and culture does not right the wrong.

Teach, honor and learn how to be better. But choosing one group to pay reparations does nothing but make a few feel like they did something! Even this will leave many out. Cancel culture and money is not the answer. Love and God are the answers! IMO

Nicholas Provenzale

I think Christians should get reparations for happened after Jesus was crucified.

Reverend Jerry

OPINION: The time has past. Show me one person that has been a slave in the US and we can then discuss it. Time to shut down the "great divide" and move on. We already have NAACP, Black Student Associations, Black America Beauty Pageant, Black Lives Matter, Black Chamber of Commerce, Black Voices and on TV, the BET (Black Entertainment Channel). Cummon, enough with the favoritism and the continued segregation. Why must the name in include Black (or others)? If YOU are truly desiring friendship with all, cut out the BRANDING. Ever see a "White Student Association?' White Chamber of Commerce, etc?" Nope. Lets truly judge by character and not color by establishing neutral ground to work/educate/etc/ "______" name "implies favoritism, even if not present, it looks that way and no way I'm going to join a _________ Student Association, ______Chamber of Commerce. It implies "others are not welcome, simply by the name. And then, If I want to live in _______ neighborhood (pick one, Jewish, Black, White, Hispanic, Christian, Catholic, Muslim, etc) NO ONE is legally allowed to assist me to find the area to live that is most suited to me, and always my choice. No one alive today has ever been a slave in the US, nor their parents. Time to fight the real problem of continued Govt Manipulation of ALL. Look around 'cause there are good and bad in each of the races and religions, but only one God and he does not mind what race you claim. Bodies laying in a cemetery are ALL the same, dead and buried.. Hope my info helps. Rev Jerry in Texas - I have performed 7 weddings and 2 funerals over the years and am proud to be a part of assisting folks both happy and sad. WE truly can make a difference one person at a time.

Robbie Ousley

[continued]

RESEARCH TO DO

ARTICLE COMMENT: As it happens, one of the most common arguments against reparations is also a Biblical one: that individuals are "not responsible for the sins of their father." RESEARCH: “The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.” Ezek.18 Even though Ezekiel makes a statement like this, chapter 16 makes it clear that God cursed those who rejected others by not helping them, especially strangers.

ARTICLE COMMENT: White people today played no part in slavery or the slave trade – so why should they help pay for generations of injustice they had no hand in? RESEARCH: People who want to be a part of conducting reparations, and assistance to all people’s needs, aren’t being allowed to because nay-sayers say we go too far; even when the cost is kept under control while benefits are maximized. So people who think there should be no reparations just don’t want to help people regardless. (personal experience speaking here)

CLOSING THOUGHT

Personally, I think reparations should go far beyond immediate financial assistance. In fact, reparations should include new technologies that can allow households to disconnect from the grid and never have an energy bill again. With reparations, we have an opportunity to bring about developments and real changes to our society where others reject them. There’s no reason reparations should not include these kinds of developments to better lives while others who have abilities to make these changes don’t.

Reparations are a humane imperative, which covers any spiritual and moral imperative whether someone believes in spiritual or moral imperatives or not.

I have tried to be involved in these kinds of things for most of my life, but life gets in the way and I, like anybody, have to make an income to live. Like with politics, faith-based, and any other kinds of involvements; having to work keeps me and most from being able to participate without becoming burned out no matter how ambitious of a person I am. The way our society works, only retirees and disabled people can be involved in such things, and there are obviously few of those who have the ability to do what all needs to be done. Nothing against retirees or disabled people at all, it’s just that they haven’t had the resources available either and so many times become tired of trying to fight the systems working against them.

I like all of the back and forth in discussions like this. It really helps me continue to have a feel for people’s mentalities about such problems. The one consistency I’ve seen over the decades is nay-sayers have no interest in finding answers, only making people overwhelmed by the issues. Yea-sayers really want to help and make things better, but don’t have a handle on how because they are fought so vehemently by those who do their best to follow corporate greed and overwhelm everyone.

This is doable, and can really help everyone, especially those in need, in ways that also help the country reach compassionate and highly productive results. It doesn’t take a lot of laws to make these kinds of differences, it just takes some laws to stop the prejudices and authorities who are actually willing to go after those harming the less advantaged (to say the least). I stopped being happy-go-lucky about things when I grew up, but that hasn’t stopped me from being hopeful, compassionate, and willing to do whatever it takes to make a real difference with real changes if I can ever have a chance to do so. <3

I have been a pastor, evangelist, a government employee, a real estate agent, a cross-country transport driver, worked in many offices and factories, a retirement/life/annuities professional, worked in cleaning professional buildings, worked in local and federal food inspection, and many other areas of low and high level professions. All of these things concerning human assistance and reparations are doable. It kills me to see how all efforts like these have been allowed to be undermined by those who couldn’t care less, and actually only care to hold people back as much as possible.

My apologies, I could go on and on and on, but my response has become too long as it is. Hope my comments help rather than harm anyone. Love ALL, Robbie

Robbie Ousley

Posting my response in 2 parts because it is more than the required 5000 character limit.

I understand nay-sayers saying we have limited funds, more-so than needed for reparations, and across the board social issues in financial, faith-based, cultural and other renewals needing revived. I agree, with some caveats.

All of these things need reevaluated, nothing is really going to help anybody without changing “and upholding” discriminatory laws and policies. All the financial assistance will become null and only benefit those welching those who reparations are intended for. When are people going to start voting for those who actually want to fix things in this country enough to get super-majorities rather than just lie and believe lies that get nothing done? Taking rights away is not the way to make things better for anybody on any side.

Corporations have become so deceptive in how they operate, noone has a chance to fight or hold them responsible who is not already wealthy.

Religious institutions are so broken and divided that there aren’t many effective ways to hold them responsible for the negative effects certain ones have had on racism.

When it comes down to it, much of what is being called reparations are things needing straightened out for everyone. The main part of reparations in this area is to make sure noone is left out, especial minorities and all those who’s ancestry has been treated horribly.

Reparations are the right thing to do (full stop). But making sure reparations are really helping people instead of corporations is a fight we have in this country across the board, and we have to account for that.

Backers of reparations saying it's more complicated than that are exactly right. Everything is more complicated than nay-sayers want to admit because they don’t want anything to happen for anyone; they are privileged and deserve nothing for their chosen ignorance about any problem they don’t’ want to deal with.

Aziz Nathoo has an excellent point that isn’t repeated enough. We pay for national debt from generation after generation and then act like descendants shouldn’t provide reparations, even though reparations are a minute fraction of the national debt being carried to future generations. This is all because of corporations welching everyone who is not wealthy, and it’s happening around the globe.

PROBLEMS WITH REPARATIONS

By providing repairs for black majority congregation churches Problem is the cost of paying people to make repairs have escalated and been taken advantage of There are ways to make this work, but it takes an organized effort to do it and, so far, noone has done it right I’m not sure if I understood this point right, but this is what I got out of it.

By giving people money Money has reduced in value so much it doesn’t go far for trying to help individuals and households There are ways to make this work, but it takes an organized effort to do it and, so far, noone has done it right on a large scale

By building affordable housing developments The cost of building housing has ballooned so much that it doesn’t match the amount of assistance that is needed There are ways to make this work, but it take an organized effort to do it and, so far, corporate greed has outsmarted these efforts and stopped every effort to accomplish these things in reasonable ways

By creating education opportunities for black youth Many efforts have been effective in this area, but nowhere near enough for anyone whether reparations are involved or not. We need a paradigm change in education to correct this issue and it’s more than possible to do.

RESOLUTIONS FOR REPARATIONS

Continue establishing awareness across the country of how people have been treated

Continue establishing immediate consequences for those who continue treating people these ways

Determine what needs paid for to help individuals and households, and make them efficient and immediately evaluated to insure they are done in the most effective ways

Continue increasingly stopping special benefits government provides businesses, churches, organizations, etc. when discrimination and injustices are made by them

[continued]

Bilal Ibn Jackson

This is very interesting. After more than 400 years of mistreatment of the So called Negroes some would argue that we are entitled to nothing. It is not a historical fact that the wealth of the southern United States was not built on the blacks of the former slaves? It goes so much deeper than just that. Systems were put into place to destroy the black family as an institution. It is obvious that the hate is still so very real. One responder even suggested that we should go back to Africa. WOW!! I’m an American. A veteran of two wars, my father served two tours in Vietnam and my Grandfather fought in Korea. Respectfully you don’t have the right to ask me to leave. As far as the other ethnic groups that were mistreated here, none were made to be slaves. Treated far worse than animals. Raping the women and putting the fear of God in the men to dare not respond. There is so much to be said but I will pause my thoughts for now.

John Edgar Buonagurio

It's not about black and white. It's about the haves and have-nots. The top 1% hold over 50% of the wealth; most of whom never worked for it. Redistributing wealth to a certain class of people is patently unfair and will further divide our country. Giving opportunities to all people, regardless of their identity, is fair and uncomplicated. The concept of racism is used to keep poor and working-class blacks and whites at odds with one another. "Reparations" to one class of people would only perpetuate the fundamental problem.

David S. R. Clark

EVERY MAN has been, either, slave or master at one time or another...all the way back. So, why is America getting picked on...? Slavery in America was a very short time...yes, it was! Until WE THE PEOPLE won the Revolutionary War (April 19, 1775 – September 3, 1783), it was still an English protectorate. So...from 1607 (Jamestown) to 1775, "America" still fully English. That is 168 of English slavery in the American colonies. So...from 1775 to the Emancipation Proclamation in January of 1863...this was America, in which a very common practice was held...slavery. Slavery was only practiced 88 years. Yes...88. Let's take a roll-call of civilized countries: SPAIN- Slavery from the 9th century to 1811. So, roughly, a thousand years. And Cuba has ignored the ban, and continues to this day! ENGLAND- Slavery here lasted from the Roman occupation (43AD to 410AD) until the Slavery Abolition Act of 1833. That is approximately 1,800 years. And, let's not forget, the widespread Muslim Slave Trade. It has lasted over 13 centuries, and is, arguably still in existence with ISIS, the Taliban, ect. The wars in the middle East have shown the strong existence of the trade in conquered peoples, including a strong sex trade. Which...then brings us to human trafficking. I am as white as they come. My people are from Scotland. Three of my relatives were put on slave ships, bound for the America's in 1746, after a last failed attempt of a free Scotland. They were endentured slaves here until the American Revolution, where they got a chance to fight the English again.

So...I say, again...EVERY MAN HAS BEEN SLAVE OR MASTER AT ONE TIME OR ANOTHER!

So, NO on reparations to ANY group. Slavery is OVER. No one exist in our 88 year slavery period. Move forward. Reparations are extortion, nothing more.

Best Regards, David S. R. Clark

David S. R. Clark

EVERY MAN has been, either, slave or master at one time or another...all the way back. So, why is America getting picked on...? Slavery in America was a very short time...yes, it was! Until WE THE PEOPLE won the Revolutionary War (April 19, 1775 – September 3, 1783), it was still an English protectorate. So...from 1607 (Jamestown) to 1775, "America" still fully English. That is 168 of English slavery in the American colonies. So...from 1775 to the Emancipation Proclamation in January of 1863...this was America, in which a very common practice was held...slavery. Slavery was only practiced 88 years. Yes...88. Let's take a roll-call of civilized countries: SPAIN- Slavery from the 9th century to 1811. So, roughly, a thousand years. And Cuba has ignored the ban, and continues to this day! ENGLAND- Slavery here lasted from the Roman occupation (43AD to 410AD) until the Slavery Abolition Act of 1833. That is approximately 1,800 years. And, let's not forget, the widespread Muslim Slave Trade. It has lasted over 13 centuries, and is, arguably still in existence with ISIS, the Taliban, ect. The wars in the middle East have shown the strong existence of the trade in conquered peoples, including a strong sex trade. Which...then brings us to human trafficking. I am as white as they come. My people are from Scotland. Three of my relatives were put on slave ships, bound for the America's in 1746, after a last failed attempt of a free Scotland. They were endentured slaves here until the American Revolution, where they got a chance to fight the English again.

So...I say, again...EVERY MAN HAS BEEN SLAVE OR MASTER AT ONE TIME OR ANOTHER!

So, NO on reparations to ANY group. Slavery is OVER. No one exist in our 88 year slavery period. Move forward. Reparations are extortion, nothing more.

Best Regards, David S. R. Clark

Bruce Hoy

Why should someone who has never owned slaves pay money to someone who has never been a slave? The sins of the father are not the sins of the son!

Steve Byrd

Accepting Christ will break any chian that holds us down... Throwing money at a situation that is moot isn't the way to go

Veronica Deevers

Absolutely NOT. What about the White Irish slaves who were a dime a dozen compared to the expensive Black slaves? What about the Chinese who were so badly abused during the railroad days? What about the Native Americans who lost everything? The US government broke every single treaty agreement they made.
I'm sick to death of this government push for racial divide. They stir up needless hatred. BTW.....I don't have a lot of melanin. But this is the package God sent me here in and if someone has a problem with it, they need to take it up with Him. We are all created in the image of God. We all have worth and dignity and that's what they want to take away from us. Our precious Constitution states that all men are created equal. Let's get back to our founder's roots that started this country!!

Merlin

It's all dependent on the current generation. The degree of remaining inequalities should guide the type and amount of reparations. The Old Testament mentions up to 4 generations. Remember, the Old Testament supported slavery.

Burgos Johnson

My paternal grandparents came from Sweden. They may have owned European slaves, but Vikings never bothered to visit Africa.

My god-daughter is a disabled Army veteran. I took her to drop off her food stamp paperwork last year and was appalled to see people entering the food stamp office, paperwork in hand, from Mercedes Benz, BMWs, Hummers and EVEN A BENTLEY!! Yet, my god-daughter had a car worth $900 given to her and they reduced her food stamp allocation for that "income". She said that how the others got around it was put the car in some other family member's name or lease it. However, when you lease you have to put $2,000 to $5,000 down and make payments every month. Why did no one ask where that income came from? The system is BROKEN! They think that welfare is a right and that scamming the system is okay. It's time to change the laws for welfare!!

Burgos Johnson

Every group has faced discrimination and a lack of opportunities. Statements are often made about how blacks continue to live in poverty, however, no one looks at WHO is living in poverty. The blacks who are unable to escape the cycle of poverty are unwed mothers who depend on welfare to survive. I have actually had students who would talk about how many babies you needed to qualify for Section 8 housing and welfare. The youngest student that I have ever had get pregnant was 12. She gave birth to twins at 13!

San Francisco is paying reparations to blacks for 'systemic racism". However, they are ignoring the Chinese immigrants who they treated like slaves, murdered with impunity and burden with racial hatred! Is it because DESPITE having features that made them easy to recognize and single out (just like blacks), the asian community has managed to achieve incredible success and upward mobility. Their average income is high which is helped out by the fact that their girls DO NOT CONSIDER UNWED MOTHERHOOD A POSITIVE CHOICE!! They are expected to achieve despite everything while the other group relishes its victim status and tries to parlay into special treatment across the board.

However, what is particularly DISGUSTING is the refusal of these liberals to recognize the most marginalized and ill-treated group in America, the Native American. Slaves cost a lot of money, so they didn't kill them off. However, Native Americans were systematically ripped from their property, murdered on forced marches in the dead of winter and placed on barren plains instead of the lush and fertile lands they used to roam. They have the highest rate of alcoholism, suicide and now drug abuse of any racial minority. Yet they are systematically ignored, just as they are systematically discriminated against.

The blacks of American need to trace the sale records from the souks and bazaars of Africa and get reparations from the people who attacked their homes, rounded them up and sold them into slavery!!

Steven Ferrell

So they going to give reparations to the Irish descendants as well? When my family first came to America they could not get jobs. Many places had signs that read NINA, meaning No Irish Need Apply. BTW, that was after slavery ended, so my family never owned slaves. That mean I don’t have to pay towards it?
The past is the past and no one is owed anything.

Paul Brian Kimmel

Giving Reparations to Black Americans is as dumb as Reparations to Native Americans, or giving reparations to Jewish people who were enemies of the state of Germany during WWII. Use money to feed and support people who are suffering. Reparations are the finest in Socialism; someone undeserving receiving something for nothing!

Daniel Gray

Sorry to put it this way but HELL NO! You want to give reparations? then do it with your own money. How exactly are you going to find the descendants who were slaves? And you do know that there were BLACK SLAVE OWNERS as well...right? Not to mention there hasnt been a Black slave in this country since December 6th 1865 no matter what anyone tells you or tries to claim. And what about all the white and Irish and others who were sent here for a form of debtors prison. And lets not forget the people like my family who are Native American and all the land that was stolen from us and the Tribal nations that were exterminated. Heck in Washington State, the Hoh, Makah, Quileute and Quinault who keep being harassed because they hunt whales once a year and fish salmon out of the rivers; which is their rights under the Treaty signed by the US Government. But you have whiners and crybabies who think they can go harass these people and stop them from doing what they have done for thousands of years. So absolutely not. NO reparations to anyone until you start with the Native Americans and move your way up. And here is a little secret, we Native Americans dont want your money, we just want you to honor the legal and binding agreements you signed with us, no more no less. But continue with stuff like this and keep ticking us off and the US will end up like Oklahoma. Where a US Federal Court just ruled that well over 85% of the state is INDIAN land, and that includes Tulsa (belongs to the Cherokee, my people) which means ALL the people who live in Oklahoma and now find they live on a reservation, can be forced to pay rent or vacate the land. And all the oil and other natural resources that was stolen from our lands the people who took them can now be forced to pay us for stealing them. So let this be a warning to stop acting stupid and trying to kiss the rears of idiots who want free money. You WONT like it if you continue as the land you are sitting on reading this message once belonged to a Native American nation...and they may want it back because of the broken treaties.

Jimmy Moon

The way to settle this is easy. Tell whoever wants the money that they can have it. BUT, it will only be enough for the boat ride back to Africa. They will miss all the freebies they get here. In Africa, things will be a lot different. I understand that slaves of all colors suffered. They are all DEAD now. I'm willing to bet nobody will take up the offer. They should be thankful they ended up here and not in some other third-world country. Everyone here has the same opportunity to make something of themselves. Stop bowing down to the whiners.

Alexander Arends

Reparations: what will it accomplish? Will it negate the sins of the past? Will it mean that all of a sudden race relations improve? Who qualifies as beneficiary of such action? Only the descendants of slaves? And who will be responsible for compensation? Only the descendants of slave owners? And what will be an appropriate amount? And why should I, not being the descendance of a slave owner have to compensate people who are smarter than I, are able to live a better lifestyle than I and hold positions of authority?

This just makes no sense to me. There is black and white and brown and yellow, and all are children of the same God. We will be so much better off if we focus on poverty and justice for all people home and abroad.

Catherine Christina Deslippe

Concerning all humanity, God (any God or so whoever you believe in) created us to be equal and treated equally. In the past, such terrible lives of slavery and racism existed; one was not educated until later. It is valid for all cultures. I only read of it and saw it on the television, or I had no idea it even existed. Living not far from the indigenous civilization, I saw many of the same acts.

With the torture and pain that has inflected many, counselling, the best of care and money to get back on their feet. By saying that, does, it still exist? Is this just what I read in my history books? We must live for the future; my future includes everyone, and we are all the same in my heart. I love watching professional sports and seeing cultures from all over the world. We must rejoice in how far we have come and how proud we are instead of always going backwards. Come together. Praise be to God in the highest,

Matthew Mastrogiovanni

When the church has finished making reparations to blacks, this witch wants reparations for crimes committed against witches from the burning times through current times.

Canadian Yankee

How about a first class plane ticket to any other country in the world, in exchange for cancelation of citizen ship of anyone wanting the deal.

Thomas Edwin Peterson

Absolutely not.

Pamela Shuttleworth

I believe that there will always be someone or some group that will be ticked off no matter how reparations play out. It's going to be a difficult conversation for everyone. The right thing to do is usually never easy but seems to always be worth it.

Pamela Shuttleworth

I believe that there will always be someone or some group that will be ticked off no matter how reparations play out. It's going to be a difficult conversation for everyone. The right thing to do is usually never easy but seems to always be worth it.

Rev Mark D

Well I think any church that engaged in politics over the last hundred years should have their tax advantaged status revoked and reversed in fact. And they should be giving money to people, rather than people giving money to church especially perhaps even a double or triple penalty on all of those televangelists. The ones who buy stadiums and extremely expensive real estate for living and investments, private jets for their own use, tax advantages for their lavish lifestyles, any of those who have endorsed prosperity religion, and of course any of those who said God needs more money cuz he's coming soon, God needs more money because we need to get the Jews home to israel, and Jesus needs all that extra money because he's coming back.

Then after that we can look at racial injustice, Injustice to jews, Injustice to native americans, Canadian native Americans need to get in on it, 100 plus years of consistent sexual assaults by clergy, there's all that to pay for as a second tranche.

Rev. Kev

IMO reparations for slavery would have been a good idea for those who were actually slaves, but that time has passed. I see no reason to offer compensation for slavery from people who were never slaves. No one who was wronged is alive. If people who experienced racism, or simply think they experienced racism, are supposed to receive repearations then we'll be doling out money to basically everyone. No group is really above or exempt from racism to one degree or another. So where does it all end? With whom? After how long? How will it all be funded? Why pick one group at some particular time over any other? Political expedience? What happens when the current socio-political climate changes (as it inevitably does)? These are at least some of the questions this topic raises in my mind.

Minister Wilson

Mr. Knight,

I can presume by your comment that you have some animosity and bias toward the discussion in general.

If you really believe that slavery, black codes, Jim crow, segregation, and red-lining were tantamount to what the "Irish people" had to endure then it is quite obvious that none of these government sanctioned actions were in fact wrong...

While your comments are "cute", they seem ignorant and I don't think that you fully grasp that your attitude and other that think like you are a part of the "real problem" with race relations today...

The civil war was about slavery but not necessarily to free the slaves it was to stop the spread of the institution out west...

All the pomp and moral circumstances you appear to be placing in that conflict is misguided and clearly refuted by your own rhetoric...

For example, why would we need

"...the civil rights battle of the early and late 50s, 60s, and 70s..." if the Civil war was about freedom and equality?

WTF is General Lee Day about?

How about all those confederate monuments and statues WTF are those all about? States rights?

States rights to do what "Rodney"? Hold black people as property...as a matter of law...

So cut the self righteous I an-int paying for nothing crap...

Did you personally place Japanese in interment camps?

Did you personally drive Native Americans from their lands?

Did the tax payers in Germany personally kill Jews?

No, because you "Rodney" don't have to be personally responsible for something that a government has done in order for it to be held responsible for...

If you truly were a "real American" then you would be just as upset and disappointed in your government for how it treated a certain group of fellow Americans for hundreds of years...

No, you take it as a personal affront, because shucks you didn't do nothing (Hum, curious)

Try flying a Nazi flag in Germany see what happens, but here, a group of disenfranchised individuals believe that they have the right to display a treasonous flag proudly mind you...Cause its about heritage...is it, is it really?

So, please continue on with your distorted worldview, I am sure it will get sorted out one way or another...

You got some nerve...

Minister Wilson

Colleen McAllister

I am unsure of the whole idea of reperations. How can we make up for what happened in the past? What's done is done. We need to move on from here and make sure it doesn't happen again.

Rodney Knight

I wonder if they are willing to do the sane for others the Irish indented servants people poor folk from Europe that where use and abused by the so called white privileged class they were beaten and abused as well and the imperative thing is just thier way of making one feel obligated to follow along willingly and feel better about themselves may I point out that good people died in this country so all men could live equal and lives the civil war was fought to make sure all men black or white could live free as well as the civil rights battle of the early and late 50s, 60s, and 70s even into this day and age people on both side black and white have and still give thier lives and many more are yet willing if the big churches want to start fund to subsidize this I think it's great catholic Baptist and Morman and other large churches taking in millions and billions of dollars have my blessing but dint ask us who find the thought of it unsavory and short sighted not everyone in this day and age has money to give away and churches already pick our pockets with thier tithe some if they feel so inclined I say go for it but you need to ask before you go off and do this So you feel better about yourselves

Bishop William Dusenberry, DD

Reparations— if there are going to be any — should be doled out to those — identified as being at least 50% African-American— willing to attend — a two or four year public college/university (room and board included) while maintaining at least a “C” average.

The Universal Life Church Ministries should take the lead, in this regard — by awarding Doctorates of Divinity to any of those graduating from either a two, or four year degree program (from a public college/university).