To what extent can reparations affect the quality of life for African Americans?
In the present paper a clear link will be made as to how segregation and slavery have caused an increased poverty rate in African Americans now; as well as analysing previous historical instances of reparations and how other instances of reparations for slavery set a precedent for reparations for African Americans. There will also be mention of past historical precedent and how, when reparations were given prior, they were received. International law that must be addressed as well and plays a key part in the argument for reparations. Once that is information is established I will go on to the gap in my knowledge. The gap that is present in my research is futuristic, …show more content…
According to the Oxford Dictionary the definition of a reparation is, “The making of amends for a wrong one has done, by paying money to or otherwise helping those who have been wronged.” In 2010 a document was written by the Secretary-General titled “Guidance Note of the Secretary-General: United Nations Approach to Transitional Justice,” to support the Oxford dictionary 's definition of reparations; the document states, “Reparations programmes seek to redress systemic violations of human rights by providing a range of material and symbolic benefits to victims. Reparations can include monetary compensation, medical and psychological services, health care, educational support, return of property or compensation for loss thereof, but also official public apologies” In both instances amends are being made for some wrongdoing. The Secretary-General is Mr. Ban Ki-moon of the Republic of Korea and is a diplomat as well as an advocate for the interests of the world 's people among many other roles. The document written by the Secretary-General goes on to say that redress can be given in quite a few ways such as restitution, compensation, guarantees of non-repetition and so …show more content…
wrote an article titled ”Repairing the Past: New Efforts in the Reparations Debate in America,” he is a professor at Harvard Law School, as well as the founder of the school 's Charles Hamilton Houston Institute for Race and Justice, he has also written multiple books on legal topics. In his article he shows that there are currently many lawsuits pending in several states seeking reparations such as, Illinois, Texas, New York, New Jersey, Louisiana, California, and Oklahoma. He also goes on to speak about four cases that have been given reparations by state governments most notably in Rosewood, Florida, but also in California, Oklahoma, and Chicago. Another Harvard Professor Joe Feagin Ph.D., works in the Department of sociology and researches Racial and Ethnic Studies amongst other areas, he mentions the most notable instance for reparations in Rosewood, Florida in his paper. In Rosewood, Florida during the year 1920, there was a vicious attack on an African American community by whites, at least eight of the 350 residents were massacred along with dozens of injuries. That city was burnt to the ground and in 1990 an African American survivor worked to get reparations, and won. Feagin writes that the Florida legislature passed the Rosewood Compensation Act and families involved got reparations for that traumatic experience. He mentions a similar case in Tulsa, Oklahoma which was a similar case, these cases show precedent in the Unites states
In the present paper a clear link will be made as to how segregation and slavery have caused an increased poverty rate in African Americans now; as well as analysing previous historical instances of reparations and how other instances of reparations for slavery set a precedent for reparations for African Americans. There will also be mention of past historical precedent and how, when reparations were given prior, they were received. International law that must be addressed as well and plays a key part in the argument for reparations. Once that is information is established I will go on to the gap in my knowledge. The gap that is present in my research is futuristic, …show more content…
According to the Oxford Dictionary the definition of a reparation is, “The making of amends for a wrong one has done, by paying money to or otherwise helping those who have been wronged.” In 2010 a document was written by the Secretary-General titled “Guidance Note of the Secretary-General: United Nations Approach to Transitional Justice,” to support the Oxford dictionary 's definition of reparations; the document states, “Reparations programmes seek to redress systemic violations of human rights by providing a range of material and symbolic benefits to victims. Reparations can include monetary compensation, medical and psychological services, health care, educational support, return of property or compensation for loss thereof, but also official public apologies” In both instances amends are being made for some wrongdoing. The Secretary-General is Mr. Ban Ki-moon of the Republic of Korea and is a diplomat as well as an advocate for the interests of the world 's people among many other roles. The document written by the Secretary-General goes on to say that redress can be given in quite a few ways such as restitution, compensation, guarantees of non-repetition and so …show more content…
wrote an article titled ”Repairing the Past: New Efforts in the Reparations Debate in America,” he is a professor at Harvard Law School, as well as the founder of the school 's Charles Hamilton Houston Institute for Race and Justice, he has also written multiple books on legal topics. In his article he shows that there are currently many lawsuits pending in several states seeking reparations such as, Illinois, Texas, New York, New Jersey, Louisiana, California, and Oklahoma. He also goes on to speak about four cases that have been given reparations by state governments most notably in Rosewood, Florida, but also in California, Oklahoma, and Chicago. Another Harvard Professor Joe Feagin Ph.D., works in the Department of sociology and researches Racial and Ethnic Studies amongst other areas, he mentions the most notable instance for reparations in Rosewood, Florida in his paper. In Rosewood, Florida during the year 1920, there was a vicious attack on an African American community by whites, at least eight of the 350 residents were massacred along with dozens of injuries. That city was burnt to the ground and in 1990 an African American survivor worked to get reparations, and won. Feagin writes that the Florida legislature passed the Rosewood Compensation Act and families involved got reparations for that traumatic experience. He mentions a similar case in Tulsa, Oklahoma which was a similar case, these cases show precedent in the Unites states