Reparations and Racial Inequality

 

• Darby argues that in the short-term it may be preferable to argue for black reparations in a manner that does not depend on the particular causes of racial inequalities and suggests a possible way forward. Do you agree? Explain.

As suggested by his opening paragraph, the issue for reparations for African Americans is among the "most hotly contested debates in the public sphere." (Darby 2010, 55) At the time of this article, the debate that was sparked for decades saw a recent surge with the election of Barack Obama, and Darby notes that many people demand monetary reparations for their actions after his formal apology made no reference to reparations. This, however, is met with backlash as the contrasting ideas of no reparations, symbolic reparations, and monetary reparations can largely be traced along racial lines. (Darby 2010, 56) He cautions us against simply pinning the debate of pro/anti reparations as a racial debate though.

To offer my opinion on the question, we must determine what his argument is and what his suggestion for the way forward is. He argues that physical, tangible reparations may not equate and do its justice towards truly fixing the cumulative wrongs made throughout history. For example, do we truly think that money will fix persistent racism and countless years of slavery, Jim Crow Laws, and more? While some modern politicians and advocates for reparations may believe that it is necessary, Darby disagrees. Not in the sense that he thinks that is not necessary, but that it won't do anything. He argues that change needs to come from the intangible, where African Americans need an environment that fosters self-development and individual freedom. In this sense, Darby is advocating for more liberal policies, ones that may improve the self-worth of many of the African Americans demanding reparations in the sense that it may be more impactful than any physical thing you could ever give them. (Darby 2010, 63) Payments, in his eyes, could never solve any of the issues and systemic, ingrained ideas that have marginalized African Africans for many years but perhaps getting to the issues that linger may be the real path forward.

I agree with his premise, but I disagree with the fact that one solution alone is enough. To some extent, I believe that we must get to the root of the cause and fix the situation today as he suggests, but I think there is also an aspect we must tackle about previous injustices. I think that the economic losses African Americans have endured could be reprimanded through monetary means. The apology from Obama may not have been fruitless, it could have been a stepping stone. Simply focusing on one is not the answer.