Reparations - They, Not Us
One hundred and sixty years ago, it was the first post-slavery American controversy.
The first time, but not the last that White America had an ought with redressing the wrongs done to Black Americans.
They said:
“It’s too much.”
“It sets a dangerous precedent.”
“We can’t afford it.”
The subject was reparations.
Money that would be paid to Black Americans to offset slavery and the societal consequences of once being chattel.
“Forty acres and a mule” was the catchphrase coming from Special Field Orders No. 15, proclaimed by General William Tecumseh Sherman, to give land to freed Blacks that had been confiscated from slaveowners.
Most of the confiscated land was returned to its former owners/ slaveowners.
“Forty acres and a mule” was unrealized, like so many things in Black American life.
Reparations are too heady a concept, too difficult to apply to Black Americans.
But for White former slaveowners in Washington, DC?
Abraham Lincoln’s government said, “Of course!”
The “Great Emancipator’s” government paid $300 apiece for each slave lost.
Payment was remunerated to 979 slave owners for the loss of 2,989 slaves.
As reparation talk for Black Americans has increased, the same phrases are on auto-repeat.
“We can’t afford it.”
“It would be like welfare.”
“We can’t do it.”
“It’s impossible.”
But reparations for White domestic terrorists?
This administration says, “Yes, please!”
The president was asked during an interview on Newsmax about the possibility of a “compensation fund” for the rioters.
His response:
“Well, there’s talk about that. A lot of the people that are in government now talk about it because a lot of the people in government really like that group of people. They were patriots as far as I was concerned. I talk about them a lot. They were treated very unfairly.”
The current American government is considering giving reparations to White terrorists who defaced, defecated, and destroyed the US Capitol.
That’s as American as you can get.
The line from American slavery’s genesis, through succession, Reconstruction, Jim Crow, the Civil Rights movement, Obama’s election, January 6th, the current president’s reelection to now has been steady and unwavering.
Black Americans are responsible for their own privations.
It is our fault we were brought over to this nation in chains.
We were responsible for our mistreatment and degradation.
After the Civil War, we founded the Ku Klux Klan.
We terrorized, beat, and lynched ourselves.
We should have been grateful for what we received during the 50’s and 60’s when White America beneficently gave us rights and privileges.
Today, in 2025, we should be overwhelmed with thankfulness.
Despite having civil rights and liberties rolled back by the corrupt Supreme Court,
Regardless of being summarily executed by law enforcement,
Even though we still lag far behind our White compatriots in every measure of success and achievement,
We have the gall to believe that the country still owes us a debt.
Meanwhile, White patriots who love this country, who only want what’s best for themselves,
Who were rudely treated after January 6,
The day they rioted and looted.
Beat and killed police officers.
Threatened the lives of the Vice President and members of Congress,
They are the deserving ones.
They deserve reparations.
All those lost wages during imprisonment.
The social stigma of being harassed by law enforcement.
The pain and suffering caused by an unreasonable criminal justice system.
This merits remuneration.
America must pay these people what they are owed.
For the good of the country,
To balance the scales that were so unjustly tilted against them, they must receive justice.
They, not us.