Reparations of Slavery

Paper Summary:

This paper contends that the reparation movements sometimes have their heart in the right place, though sometimes not. The paper assesses that the passing of reparations legislation would force the economic exploitation of one group (modern European-Americans) for the benefit of another (modern African-Americans). Doing so would solve none of the problems facing the African-American population in the United States today, but would create new problems and inflame old ones. The paper claims that, for these reasons, plus the bad logic upon which the pro-reparations argument is based, it is unlikely that reparations legislation will ever be seriously considered by Congress.

From the Paper:

"One issue that has come to the surface in recent discussions of race in America is the issue of Slavery Reparations. This is essentially the idea that modern descendents of American slaves should receive some form of financial reparations for the oppression and other hardships endured by their ancestors. One notable advocate of this scheme is Randall Robinson, as quoted in Watts-Jones (2004). He claims economic reparations to the descendents of slaves are a necessary as well as morally correct thing since so much of the United States' wealth in prior centuries was derived from the uncompensated labor of slaves."

More papers on Reparations of Slavery:

• Research Paper # 67250 : "Reparations for Slavery"
• Term Paper # 118816 : "The Long-Term Impacts Of Slavery"
• Argumentative Essay # 117781 : "Say No To Slavery Reparations"

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