On Juneteenth, what are your thoughts on California giving reparations to African Americans?

Question

OlderAndWiser · Accepted Answer

I see two possible "justifications" that could be advanced:

1. Punishment of white people who ancestors profited from slavery, or

2. Compensation to black people for the cumulative deficit in their lives caused by the hardships imposed on their ancestors.

1. Punishment of white people who ancestors profited from slavery. My maternal ancestors owned slaves and profited from having them. Will I be required to fund reparations on the basis of how many ancestors owned slaves? Or will white people whose ancestors never owned slaves also be required to contributed.

There were black people who owned slaves, and black Africans who captured other Africans and sold them into slavery. Are they required to fund reparations?

The benefit to my maternal ancestors did NOT trickle down to me. My mother was raised in a cabin in the rural part of our county. The nearest paved road was 4 miles away, and the cabin did not have electricity or plumbing. My mother quit school in 11th grade to marry my father, an 8th grade dropout. After they married, their first house was a shell and we could see the ground through the cracks between the floor boards. What my family eventually accomplished was done through their own hard work and determination, not through any fictional white privilege.

2. Compensation to black people for the cumulative deficit in their lives caused by the hardships imposed on their ancestors. Not all black Americans are descended from slaves. Are they also entitled to reparations? Why? Some black Americans have white ancestors. If they are 7/8 black, do they get only 7/8 of the $5,000,000 being demanded. If they have received a college education, are they still entitled to compensation? There are many white people in this country who are not college educated and who live in poverty; are they less deserving?

If we start compensating people for harm done to their ancestors, why should we not compensate Jews for what their ancestors suffered during the Holocaust? Why should Asian people not be compensated for the injustices done to them.

The explanation for all of this is obvious: all of the "reasons" and "justifications" are mere pretexts for a political agenda. The left feels the black vote slipping away because the Democrat Party has not delivered what it always promises, and reparations is a vehicle to buy votes.

hahahmm · Accepted Answer

1. The people most likely affected by slavery are least likely to agree that they're affected. If you look at Pew Research Center looked at what percentage of Black Americans believe the legacy of slavery affects them today. The lowest percentage was in people who live in the South & Midwest where I would expect the most damage to actually be since the majority of those who had slave ancestors live there. The highest percentage is in liberal hotbeds like the Northeast and West. Also highest percentage among highly the highly educated (in liberal hotbeds).

https://www.pewresearch.org/race-ethnicity/2022/08/30/black-americans-views-on-reparations-for-slavery/

https://www.brookings.edu/research/americas-racial-diversity-in-six-maps/

2. Lots of groups have had hardships in history. The way they over came it was by taking action, not by begging others to give them something. The idea that black people are victims is something pushed by liberals because it is a way to try and take power/money away from whoever is seen as the victimizer. And I am not just talking about white vs black here. A successful black person would be paying taxes that go to unsuccessful black people who see themselves as victims. Oh, you thought the successful black person would magically not have to pay any taxes or that none of the taxes they already paid would go into this? Not how taxes work. This is a forced transfer of wealth from those who have to those who do not. Also known as the 1st stage of a communist revolution.

3. Reparations will probably result in the leaders skimming as much money off the top as possible. We see lots of waste in government programs and this wouldn't be any different. No wonder that 'leaders' push for this.

4. All that said, I also don't agree with the U. S. shipping billions and billions of dollars to random countries around the world or putting it into programs that are basically unaccountable. It happens all the time. I would like to see a flat tax and reduction in the size of government.

Babypqndabear · Accepted Answer

I believe there should be more mental health assistance that's provided free torward African Americans. And if you go through a certain amount of therapy you can get money from it. This money will be in forms of scholarships, tax reduction, life insurance or medical insurance. This money can only be applied when you've gotten to a certain point in you life. For instance going to college, promotions at work and so on and so forth

This is because in America today most African Americans are in jail, addicted to drugs or stuck in low income lifestyles. Studies show this is because of the mental health crisis thats effecting the community due to slavery and segregation. It can be seen through generational trauma. If we are able to heal those tramas and guide a sense of change through African American families we can slowly change the way that oppression effects them.

In society we fix labels and stereotypes on people. This pushes them to be perceived a specific way. When the stereotype is the norm people tend to pretend to be the norm. But when the stereotype is broken people are forced to look at themselves and others as who they truly are. We need to get rid of the crutch oppression causes and fix the mental stability that resides in this country. That includes getting rid of these labels and stereotypes.

So in truth it wouldn't just be African Americans but everyone and anyone who feels oppressed. The fact people get glued so badly to being victimized is absolutely ridiculous. Racism doesn't exist because of the discrimination laws. There is no reason to blame your skin or identy for your actions. However that is a sticky mental health slope people have to fix themselves. You can't blame society for the things bad people do. You can't get upset when someone is uncomfortable or rude. You can only educate.

Breanna_nonbinary · Accepted Answer

How do you determine what’s appropriate? Especially since we are talking descendants now. And what if you’re mixed? Do you get 100% of the money or just half? Or a quarter? What about those that are afroAmericans but not descended from slaves? What about those that were living here but weren’t slaves and their descendants? Do they still get compensated? Why would we compensate today for something that ended in the 19th century? Why would the government compensate for something that individuals did?
More than that, what about the Japanese Americans that were enslaved during the 20th century by the government? Why aren’t they paid reparations? These people are still alive!! It happened less than 100 years ago as apposed to more than 200 years ago.
Don’t get me wrong, slavery is wrong and is a terrible thing. But the idea of our generation compensating a descended generation of slavery for things that others did is ludicrous. The indigenous peoples were paid reparations for the crimes that the government committed. They were not compensated for the acts of individuals.
The idea of reparations is just a money grab by those that still want to blame others for the lack of motivation to better their own situation.

BCA6010 · Answer

The country has already implemented a copious amounts of programs aimed at "reparations," most if not all of which should be abolished now that we are nearly 160 years past, and nobody alive today was ever part of that particular slave practice.

But since reparations of slavery is allegedly so important to these politicians and other peoples' money, why are they deafeningly silent if not complicit with the human trafficking and sex slave trade going on at their own southern border? This is a very current problem that has directly affected millions of living, breathing humans today that has gotten as bad as it has directly because of government negligence, which is typically what reparations are supposed to be paid for. Frankly none of the southern states have been great on this issue (in some cases due to federal government interference) so why not actually address this and claim an easy win?

We know why: because this is complete bullshit*t political maneuvering to buy votes and sucker idiots into false activism. Does anyone think that Barack Obama (descended from slavers and traders) is going to pay reparations to Michelle Obama (descended from slaves)? Of course not - the money will either be printed or forcibly taken from people who don't, and never had anything to do with it at any point in their family history, as if that should matter anyway.

Curmudgeon · Answer

Absolutely asinine, and sadly telling of the kind of entrenched Demunist Commiecrats that have politically taken over California in recent years, personified if not entitrely led by the smarmy Governor Gavin Newsom.

California - A state that was FREE, no slavery allowed, from its inception in 1850, even though about half of it was below the Missouri Compromise Line of 1820.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/An_Act_for_the_Admission_of_the_State_of_California

In a way, this is a sad reflection of the neglect of teaching California history anymore. I was not taught much about this man, even though he was instrumental in keeping California in the Union, even though a large number of Southern Settlers had arrived in California by 1860:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Starr_King

SoIcyGang · Answer

I don't think we should have reparations for slavery but maybe reparations for government's choice to not define black people as humans with rights.

There was slavery all over the world. It's not THAT special that black people were enslaved.

What makes our history with slavery especially bad is that in the face of the values of our system of freedom and liberty, we really fucked up and didn't include black people as humans.

So what of reparations? I don't know. It was pretty fucked up. What will they pay? A million to each black person?

The inflation would be so bad as a result. It could never be passed. If they did do reparations it would never be enough money. At best I could see them giving $5k

No realistic amount of money will fix the problems in the black community. The damage is done.

Even if they do pay reparations it won't fix anything whatsoever. Black on black violence won't go away. Black poverty won't go away.

The only way reparations could have an affect is if it literally gave black people tens of thousands of dollars. And that's not economically viable.

exitseven · Answer

It is absolutely ridiculous. I would not care except when the state finally goes bankrupt they will expect the federal government to bail them out. They already have the largest budget deficit in the country and people will good jobs and assets are leaving as fast as they can.

Anonymous · Answer

A foolish lie for votes. I mean people are fleeing the crime, high state taxes & low wages in California for arizona, texas and colorado yet California has a GDP larger than most countries. I mean the garbage often doesn't get lifted, there's mass unemployment, people are losing thrir homes and homeless are everywhere.

If $3million per head were paid put what would happen is mass inflation in California in a state where everything is already over priced.

It's a dangerous lie. I know African Americans who are quiting their jobs or taking out huge loans or spending their savings or not paying their rent or mortgage because they are expecting this huge $3million check soon.

HighValue · Answer

Then Black people need to give reparations to ALL the other groups in the USA for all the violent crime they have committed, including the CURRENT criminals actively affecting people today.

Whites and Asians need reparations because of affirmative action which harmed many Whites and Asians that never did anything wrong and it benefitted many Black people that had no ancestry of slavery either.

John_Doesnt · Answer

Seeing as how there were never any black slaves in California I think it's the most ignorant idea I've ever heard. California did have Hispanic and Asian slaves, but the ultra left doesn't like to talk about that. Also, there are still modern day Hispanic slaves working in California right now, so I think we should focus on the people who are alive and suffering instead of stuff that happened before anyone was born.

Avicenna · Answer

I support these reparations only if they can be funded by confiscating all assets belonging to wealthy leftists and redistributing them to the descendants of slaves.

DextroShade · Answer

It's an incredibly stupid act of woke virtue-signaling because California was never a slave state and they cannot afford the payments they are proposing. So they are basically proposing to bankrupt the entire state to atone for a crime they didn't commit just to appease the same asshole terrorists that spent a year burning, looting, and murdering.

abc3643 · Answer

I am for all sorts of things including affirmative action, but I am not at all for reparations. Furthermore, the moment California or any other government attempts to implement that, there will be a flurry of lawsuits about the unconstitutionality of it as a violation of the 14th Amendment.

Drumlin2001 · Answer

I don't believe in it. Who gets the money? Do people have to take DNA tests, trace family trees? What if you identify as African American but your great great great great grandfather as a plantation owner, do you pay reparations to yourself? And are the Africans who were at the centre of the slave trade going to pay anything? Where does the money come from?

Anonymous · Answer

It’s hard to argue that reparations are not owed. They should have been paid out way back when but they weren’t. The debt is still outstanding though and should be made right, just as Germany continues to do with survivors or their heirs from the holocaust. Time doesn’t right a wrong.

bolverk · Answer

Where is the Government of California going to find the money to pay these 'reparations'?

California is in a financial black hole.

California has the fifth-highest debt of any state, with total liabilities coming out to $362.87 billion. Total assets come out to $301.1 billion, creating a $55.96 billion net debt and giving California a debt ratio of 120.5%. combining all California's debt to over $1 trillion.

AnusNdaPainus · Answer

Is it based of Skin color or genetics because there are some very dark Aztec warriors If you know what I mean

also it’s rare for anyone whose family has been in America since the 20s to be 100% of whatever they think they are

one of the browniest chocolatey women I know just did a DNA test and she is 40% Dutch

Thatpearl26 · Answer

They shouldn’t receive any reparations. They were never slaves so why should they get money? If they do get reparations I now identify as black. Besides it was mostly Africans enslaving their own and selling them to Americans.

Adam1978 · Answer

It's stupid. Why would people who hasn't been slaves be paid by themselves and people who never had slaves. And what about irish slaves and other nationalities? Shouldn't they ask for that from Africa who sold their grandparents into slavery?

Ta7778 · Answer

Omg if anyone needs reparations it's ALL of us. There's not 1 group of people out there that has had a stellar history. There's a lot more going on in this world that needs attention. I have no interest in making payments to people whom have never been slaves. Or to the gang bangers across town.

AviatorTom · Answer

Giving reparations is a management nightmare. How do you determine who qualifies? Where does the huge amount of money come from to pay them? And will any payment be taxed by the feds and the state... you bet it will.

blissinanarchy1 · Answer

Reperations aimed at slavery isn’t meaningful. They’re all dead. Reperations to still alive citizens back in the 40’s, 50’s, 60’s. Sure. Those old people who went through it themselves deserve it.

Anonymous · Answer

Pretty stupid, it comes from all taxpayers and a lot of them are also black Americans, plus they already got reparations the first time around in about 1865 to the actual people that were slaves, not many generations later that has nothing to do with them

Anonymous · Answer

Reparations for what? Most of them alive have never suffered being slaves or under Jim Crow so what are they complaining about? The only problems that remain are the problems that arise from within their own community in which no one is allowed to talk about because they would be deemed racist for doing so. For example, why is the homicide rate so high? This is something even Obama addressed.

Dargil · Answer

How about reparations to millions of Irish and Italian Catholics and maybe Native "Indians" And who pays reparations to whom? Does Denzel Washington pay himself?

Vegasrunner · Answer

Ahh so u put it on the reader, I like that. Well if any reader can show me where I said Jim Crow was a different kind of slavery. I apologize in advance if u already found the person who made that statement

purplepoppy · Answer

I identify as a black American. Please send me a cheque.

MysticDevice · Answer

If they're being paid reparations, then in turn they should have to pay reparations to the decendants of the Union soldiers who fought for their emancipation. It's only fair.

Gent207-2 · Answer

How to wreck the Exobony and start a Race War for 200 Alex

inhua · Answer

let them do it. they did this to themselves by voting for Gavin Newsom

RealMarek · Answer

It’s unlikely to ever happen, but if it does I don’t know why anyone who does not receive reparations would remain in California.

BoopBoopBeep · Answer

Didn't they have a massive budget shortfall already? Stupid idea.

Massageman · Answer

I'm Bohemian. When do I start getting MY millions from Germany due to the oppression of the Poles and Czechs during an actual World War?

poppy80 · Answer

Stupid. Look up the history of slavery. You would think only black people were slaves. Or Black people did not run the slave trade for thousands of years.

DermalPunch · Answer

Well, they lied about the 40 acres and a mule. If not now then when?

RedHotSallyJo · Answer

They aren't going to do it. This is just a way to get black votes

Exterminatore · Answer

So people who never owned slaves must pay people who never were slaves through taxes? Makes total sense.

Anonymous · Answer

That's California. It's like another planet. They can do what they want so long as they don't rope us into it.

My position on reparations has always been the same. I do think reparations should be paid to any LIVING former slave.

Anonymous · Answer

If anything California should be paying the Chinese.

gorydetails · Answer

lol, fuck no. Why should people who were never slaves receive money from people who never owned slaves?

Jerre · Answer

I am 100% against reparations. But if California wants to go broke, have at it as long as no Federal funds are used.

Anonymous · Answer

Dumb. You don't give money to people who never went through slavery from people who never had slaves in a state that never allowed slavery. Reparations happen in someone's lifetime or not at all.

Anonymous · Answer

I believe if a person never went through any slavery they shouldn’t be getting any money

Anonymous · Answer

its dumb as fuck, whoever authorized that needs to be fired they're insane

Staximus · Answer

Where were hardly any black slaves in California. The slaves were mostly Native Americans

Anonymous · Answer

Since it is known that some white slave owners impregnated their black slaves. Would those descendants be considered slaves or slave owners?

AimeeKyle · Answer

Reparations are ridiculousness. No issues with Juneteenth.

BarryLiverstone · Answer

Think it was unfair that slaves were promised and not delivered by the gov

Alex8736 · Answer

Where would California get the $$$ if they were to distribute it?

Malwi93 · Answer

r they actually doing that? and who would be the beneficiary

msc545 · Answer

I live in California, and that is not going to happen.

Anonymous · Answer

It's idiotic, straight up idiotic.. No wonder California is hemoraging citizens.

Anonymous · Answer

I'd have to research it more. I don't want to give a under developed opinion on something like this.

normandi · Answer

All of the USA should give compensation for the way they enslaved blacks

Anonymous · Answer

Nope. We need to stop being forced to make a mends for shit in the past.

strateguy632 · Answer

which one can claim they were a slave?

Anonymous · Answer

No this was hundreds of years ago and ancient history. Forget about it.

Agape93 · Answer

Not my problem, I dont live there

Anonymous · Answer

That was never going to happen.

LiamJHayden · Answer

It is an attempt to buy votes.

Wise4myage · Answer

Incredibly stupid idea.

kathymosca · Answer

I would move first

imfreeze95 · Answer

It’s dumb

On Juneteenth, what are your thoughts on California giving reparations to African Americans?

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Should California pay blacks $1.2 million apiece for reparations?

On Juneteenth, what are your thoughts on California giving reparations to African Americans?

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Should California pay blacks $1.2 million apiece for reparations?

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