In an article entitled “The Case for Reparations” written by Ta-Nehisi Coates, from the Atlantic, he argues the idea of reparations and how it deserves an important place in the discussion of race in the United States. Though it may seem as though Coates title of his article portrays “reparation” as: making amends for a wrong one has done, by paying money to or otherwise helping those who have been wronged; However, he isn’t demanding that a sum of taxpayer dollars should be handed out to every African American. Though it seems like a very effective method of apologizing on the behalf of the United States history of racism, it is not possible to come up with a price that would repay for centuries of enslavement and oppression. Rather, Coates
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Evidently, black people living under slavery and Jim Crow segregation were not given a chance to flourish in society through self-determination and meritocratic affluence, which is the polar opposite to white Americans. Throughout American history black people were denied the rights to a proper education, politics, and their property was often poached, as well as not having any protection under any state laws. Another major setback was the denial of the growth of the middle-class such as the GI Bill, homeownership and the New Deal. To further solidify his claims, Coats tells the story of Clyde Ross, an African American who fled Mississippi to find work in …show more content…
He observes that people seem to think that black and white people start off at the same level in the playing field and both have the same resources and both have an equal chance of achieving similar goals. Adding on to Coates meaning of reparation, he claims that changing the current course society has taken, the first step to change is awareness. “We may find that the country can never fully repay African Americans. But we stand to discover much about ourselves in such a discussion–and that is perhaps what scares us. The idea of reparations is frightening not simply because we might lack the ability to pay. The idea of reparations threatens something much deeper–America’s heritage, history, and standing in the world”
Evidently, black people living under slavery and Jim Crow segregation were not given a chance to flourish in society through self-determination and meritocratic affluence, which is the polar opposite to white Americans. Throughout American history black people were denied the rights to a proper education, politics, and their property was often poached, as well as not having any protection under any state laws. Another major setback was the denial of the growth of the middle-class such as the GI Bill, homeownership and the New Deal. To further solidify his claims, Coats tells the story of Clyde Ross, an African American who fled Mississippi to find work in …show more content…
He observes that people seem to think that black and white people start off at the same level in the playing field and both have the same resources and both have an equal chance of achieving similar goals. Adding on to Coates meaning of reparation, he claims that changing the current course society has taken, the first step to change is awareness. “We may find that the country can never fully repay African Americans. But we stand to discover much about ourselves in such a discussion–and that is perhaps what scares us. The idea of reparations is frightening not simply because we might lack the ability to pay. The idea of reparations threatens something much deeper–America’s heritage, history, and standing in the world”