Prometheus 6   

As a white jewish liberal female who is in some sense feels neither "us" nor "them" in this particular case [though I would never deny the privilidge my skin color affords me] I have found the concept of reparations a little odd when I have heard it discussed by folks advocating on its behalf. It just feels a little off to me. I mean, no how no way is the white american establishment going to get behind any serious cash dispersal to black americans across the board. And I don't see any feasible way to ensure appropriate investment in the black community the way that Earl describes. I think the idea of reparations is a good one -- if only because it would mean an official acknowledgement and taking responsibility. But I can't see any realistic way to move forward that has a snowball's chance in Hades.

If you actually had an administration which was willing to at least discuss the issue *in principle* then maybe you develop some kind of model. I don't know, maybe college scholarships across the board???

As I write this I realize I am missing the point of this post a little. I get that. I could just erase this but I want to wrangle with the issue and try to get my head around what it means to make reparations. What Prometheus advocates in this post is what I want for all folks -- regardless of skin color. As a progressive liberal does that mean that because resources are limited it is morally incumbent upon me to advocate that that black americans get first dibs? Like if we can't afford universal healthcare then we should at least provide for black americans? [I am not being flip... I can see a real moral case that could be made here.]

I've noticed this government doesn't do a damn thing on principle. The government responds to pressures applied by the people. Sometimes those pressures are electoral; all too often they are financial. In neither case will the government formulate a clear stance on an issue before the people do so and act on that stance. That's why reparations proponents can't wait for an accomodating government to consider this. They must create a clear analysis and compelling platform in order to draw enough support to exert the pressures government responds to.

My position is, keep in mind that the damage caused by official government actions must be addressed. As a progressive liberal you need to see that resources are artificially limited and uncreating those limits will allow agovernment policy that addresses this to be shaped.

Now if the necessary actions for Black folks are things you'd like to see for everyone, fine. add that to the mix that you're pushing for. But frankly, that's not the case. Black people are in a different position relative to the society as a whole than white folks are so the required actions will be different of necessity, though the result may be the same.

So I say, push for the correct results for everyone, but don't pretend the same actions will have the same results when applied to different conditions. Give Black people what we need to draw even with the rest of society, and don't let those efforts be blocked by false claims of racism.