Reparations Should Be an Election Issue, Say Activists

New California Media, CA ^ | April 06, 2004 | Staff Writer

[schaketo]

The debate over compensation for descendents of American slaves belongs in the presidential race, say organizers of the “Big Sitting Down,” an annual conference geared to unite the reparations movement.

On March 20, during the townhall meeting of the Third NDABA conference -- “ndaba” is a word used in South Africa to describe coming together to reach a consensus -- Dr. Conrad Worrill, chairman of the National Black United Front, said, “We decided to place the reparations demands clearly in the middle of the presidential discourse, and a number of strategies were agreed upon to insure our community knows where the presidential candidates stand and what actions to take.”

Strategies include writing letters to John Kerry and George W. Bush inquiring about their positions on reparations and H.R. 40, the bill introduced by U.S. Representative John Conyers, (D-Mich.) to acknowledge the injustice of slavery and form a commission to examine and mitigate its effect on African Americans, forming study groups to educate the community on the concept of reparations, conducting a survey of all elected officials requesting their positions on reparations and H.R. 40, and initiating a grassroots campaign to obtain one million signatures in support of the reparations movement.

Minister Louis Farrakhan, leader of the Nation of Islam, was the keynote speaker during the townhall meeting that concluded the two-day NDABA. His address followed sessions at the historic Shrine of the Black Madonna, where working groups deliberated on issues including youth and faith-based organizing, legislative initiatives, legal strategies, the justice system and organizational collaboration.

“Reparations is a method by which that which is broken is made whole,” Minister Farrakhan told the cheering crowd of over 3,000. “It is a principle, a rule of action, which when acted upon produces repair.” He continued, “Many Black people have not caught on to this principle, even though it has been invoked since the 19th and 20th centuries. For 400 years this community has lived in the worst form of oppression.”

The vision to organize the voices calling for reparations was conceived last year by Dr. Worrill, who became concerned that the efforts seemed to be disconnected. The first NDABA, which included nearly 50 historians, educators, activists and organization leaders, was convened in Chicago in July 2003. “NDABA isn’t an attempt to form a new organization, but an umbrella under which the reparations movement can come together and unify its work. It’s a process,” Dr. Worrill explained.

The quest for reparations is a sacred undertaking that began with, “the demands of our ancestors as a cry for justice from the pain and exploitation of their enslavement in America,” Worrill continued. “The cry for reparations today includes repair of damage due to continued socialization of Africans in America which denies human rights -- in the areas of education, land ownership, healthcare, the justice system, economic development, political representation, etc. -- guaranteed by international laws ratified by the United States government,” he said.

Dr. Raymond Winbush, director of the Institute of Urban Research at Morgan State University, where the fourth NDABA will be held Oct. 29-30, spoke of the recent dismissal of the “Black Wall Street” reparations case in Tulsa, Oklahoma. A judge threw out a suit brought by survivors of a 1921 massacre in which rioting residents killed Blacks and destroyed their property while the U.S. government dropped explosives on their community in Tulsa. It is well documented that Africans had no recourse for dealing with matters like this via the judicial system until recent years.

“This country has consistently denied the humanity of Black people,” said Winbush. “Even if the U.N. says slavery was a crime against humanity, the U.S. still sees us as property. There are people right now making efforts to move the world court to address the issue, even as the U.S. has sought to remove itself from the jurisdiction of the world court.”

Winbush, author of “Should America Pay?: Slavery and the Raging Debate on Reparations,” said his research showed him why America doesn’t want to approach the issue of reparations. “Sometimes we say rhetorically that Black people built this nation, but we built the Western world,” he said.

“Nothing that we refer to as the Western world would have come into existence without the trans-Atlantic slave trade. The slave trade literally was the economic foundation for this country. It was blood money.”

[rdb3]

I agree! This should be an election issue!

Isn't this what we wanted, Mike? Let Kerry state his position on this one.

Oh, goody!

Show 'em my motto!

[Young Rhino]

Wishful thinking. Fat chance.

[Solamente]

How about some dough for my ancestor's "Irish Need Not Apply" job discrimination?

[MNJohnnie]

YES! Talk about your wedge issues of all Wedge issues! No matter how Kerry trys to flip flop, he still will alienate a key consitutency. YES, let us ask Sen Kerry what his position on Reperations is!

[rdb3]

Don't miss the overall gist of this. Kerry should be forced to state his position on this issue. That is the point, and nothing else. Let him deal with it. Reparations are a joke, okay?

This does not hurt the Right in the least.

Show 'em my motto!

[tkathy]

They should sue the Arab Muslim slave traders who sold their ancestors into slavery (and are continuing their vile trade today).

[w1andsodidwe]

And just think of the discrimination against my german ancestors during WWI and WWII. I should get double compensation.

[Solamente]

Black folk should demand reparations for being socially quagmired by liberal welfare, education, and affirmitive action programs.

[Howlin]

Heck, let's put it on the national ballot!

[Solamente]

Funny you should mention that. I used to get the "hard look" for pointing out to dashiki-wearing fools who were spouting Swahili terms that Swahili was a slave-trading, esperanto type language.

[rdb3]

Heck, let's put it on the national ballot!

Maybe, but right now we should focus on Kerry's position on this issue. In fact, all conservatives and Rightists should support getting Kerry to answer the question of where he stands on reparations. Talk about your knight fork!

Show 'em my motto!

[AM2000]

This is a winning issue for the GOP. Most Americans are opposed to this. The GOP is openly opposed to this. The Dems, OTOH, flip-flop on this issue depending on their audience. Make them take a stand.

[samtheman]

My ancestors were in Poland and Russia up until the early 1900s, so what I'm about to say doesn't apply to me:

African-Americans should be paying GRATUITIES to the ancestors of those who liberated them from the sickest, deadliest, most horrible, most brutal continent on earth.

How many African-Americans are driving around with bumper stickers saying: "I'd rather be in Rawanda"?

[ivanhoe116]

Winbush

Well I like the guys name...

[SoftballMominVA]

As a side issue, I read in a newspaper article (I wish I had kept it) that the NINA signs are Urban Legend, they never existed. This author went on to say that the NINA signs are a red herring that the whites toss out to counter the black claims.

Like I said, wish I kept the article or could remember where I read it.

[Samwise]

You're the man, Sam.

African-Americans should be paying GRATUITIES to the ancestors of those who liberated them from the sickest, deadliest, most horrible, most brutal continent on earth.

How many African-Americans are driving around with bumper stickers saying: "I'd rather be in Rawanda"?

[angkor]

My grandfather (an immigrant) worked in a Pennsylvania coal mine at the age of six.

Where's my dough?

[Robert A. Cook, PE]

"Sailors and Dogs - Keep off the Grass!"

[Vision]

I agree. Let's bring it up in the debates, and if it doesn't garnish support, everyone agrees to never bring it up again.

[Eternal_Bear]

Kerry will have lots of advisors who are for this crap. Jzxson, Sharpton et al will be in his face constantly demanding more and more payback. These vultures will never ne satisfied.

[CatoRenasci]

I think it should be a clearly defined choice, with the implications:

Vote for Bush, no reparations.

Vote for Kerry, all blacks get $1,000,000 each.

Funded by taxes, of course. Each American (other than blacks), that's every man, woman and child, will have to pay an additional $10,000 in taxes per year for the next ten years to fund it.

Simple question: taxes up $40,000 for a family of four, or no new taxes.

[GeekDejure]

I demand rap-erations for each and every time my ears are exposed to that freekin' disgusting rap rap rap rap rap rap rap rap crap !!!

.

[Solamente]

http://www.sunflower.com/~caitlin/Immigration.html

The two main ports of entry into the United States were New York and Boston. Once there the vast majority remained in the port city where they landed, mainly because they had little money to travel any further. It strained the resources of those two main cities to have such a large influx of immigrants and caused mounting discrimination. Housing was limited and, according to census records of the period, as many as nine people would be sharing one room. Competition for employment with the existing population was fierce and employment discrimination against the Irish became common.

As a result it became acceptable to discriminate against the Irish and newspapers depicted them as lazy, stupid and dirty. Newspapers ads for employment would end with "No Irish need apply." and restaurants and hotels would display signs saying "No Irish permitted in this establishment."

"In 1851-1852, railroad contractors in New York advertised for workers and promised good pay. When mostly Irish applied, the pay was lowered to fifty-five cents a day. When the workers protested, the militia was called in to force the men to accept."

Many of the Irish reacted to the discrimination by deliberately getting rid of their accents, changing their names and even abandoning Catholicism. Others left to go work on the railroads, canals and in the mines where jobs were to be had but where they were also discriminated against and forced to work for lower wages and in harsher conditions then other workers were expected to accept.

[Solamente]

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/roadshow/series/cook/2002/06.03.02.html

The viewer, a retired Coast Guard lieutenant named J. L. Echols, replied:

Thank you for your note of explanation regarding the comment on the soldiers housed at the hotel. I now understand that you intended no insult. Apology accepted, and appreciated.

For future reference, I feel I should tell you why some of us get a little touchy at times. As one who first joined the service in the early 50s; I remember the "Sailors and dogs keep off the grass" signs. As enlisted men, we were barred from places like the Royal Hawaiian Hotel. We were refused auto loans, and house rentals, because everyone "knew" that servicemen were not to be trusted. Those days are (thankfully) gone, but not forgotten.

[rdb3]

I demand rap-erations for each and every time my ears are exposed to that freekin' disgusting rap rap rap rap rap rap rap rap crap !!!

Switch to decaf.

Show 'em my motto!

[ShandaLear]

Count me in.

BRING IT ON!

[The Other Harry]

Lose the graphic logo. You don't need it, and we don't need to repeatedly see it.

[Thommas]

How many African-Americans are driving around with bumper stickers saying: "I'd rather be in Rawanda"?

This is the real reparations issue - are African-Americans in a worse or better situation than the one their ancestors were in when sold into slavery? What was the life expectancy and quality of tribal-conflict-captured Africans who remained on the continent? If they weren't sold to the Arab Muslims for trade, weren't they merely slaughtered? If they lived out a natural life span in Africa, would their progeny be as well off and healthy as they are in America?

My impression is that an argument exists that the African-american community owes reparations to the United States.

[GeekDejure]

Switch to decaf.

Hmmm... lemme see now... decaf decaf decaf decaf decaf decaf decaf...

Yeah... defeet of decaf went over defence before detail !!! ;-))

.

[rdb3]

Lose the graphic logo. You don't need it, and we don't need to repeatedly see it.

Umm, no. I decide what I need. Thanx anyway.

Show 'em my motto!

[m18436572]

Watch out. He's about to whip out the "Punisher" graphic!

[The Other Harry]

Umm, no. I decide what I need. Thanx anyway.

I suppose using the logo beats having a male appendage.

[junta]

This is a complete joke meant at most to rile up the self appointed white savior liberals and a few American ANC style activists. Even Chapelle (spelling?) makes fun of this, but he is right it would be good for Cadillac.

[rdb3]

I suppose using the logo beats having a male appendage.

Wow! Now that's the wisdom a middle-aged man is supposed to represent! Get down with ya bad self.

Show 'em my motto!

[Publius6961]

On March 20, during the townhall meeting of the Third NDABA conference -- “ndaba” is a word used in South Africa to describe coming together to reach a consensus -- Dr. Conrad Worrill, chairman of the National Black United Front...

Since it is reasonable to conclude that this meeting took place in Africa (there is nothing african that is of any value to this American), I wish them the best of luck collecting reparations from the still existing tribal chiefs engaging in the slave trade.

[rdb3]

Watch out. He's about to whip out the "Punisher" graphic!

And what's your malfunction?

Show 'em my motto!

[Publius6961]

The only thing more vague and useless than an urban legend is the "I read it somewhere but I can't remember where" school of discussion. That's really persuasive and convincing.

Specially on the web, yes, even Google, I believe about 10% of what I read, and then only after corroboration by some serious reference.
People who believe anything will believe everything.

[Publius6961]

I suppose using the logo beats having a male appendage.

Now you are being mean. I see it more as the Mommy look at me! look at me! syndrome.
Like the doofus who used to come to our computer meetings wearing a cape...

[rdb3]

I suppose you have a malfunction, too.

Show 'em my motto!

[cyborg]

I see that some found pee substituted for milk in their cereal.

[Hardastarboard]

Make sure all the illegals pay a share of the reparations, too. That will make them want to vote Demo for a long time to come.

[cyborg]

Let's see do you and your fellow haters know rdb3 personally? And since he's had the logo forever, why are YOU the one person to have issue with it? What's your problem with rdb3?

[cyborg]

I personally feel safer with a real man like rdb3 packing heat. I suggest you get to know someone before you join in on the hate spree.

[Dianna]

Yesterday I was flipping around radio stations (Cincinnati area) and came across a scary man! He is a local broadcaster and so outrageous that probably everyone locally is aware of him.

He said that after 19 generations of blacks being oppressed by whites, perhaps we should simply accept that white people are the natural enemy of blacks. White people are mean and evil. Black people are INCAPABLE of ever behaving evilly. It simply is not their nature. Anything that a black person may have done which might be seen as mean or evil can always be seen as a response to white evil practices.

Now, since white people are inherently evil AND the natural enemy of black people, how should black people respond?

Luckily he never gave an answer to that question. After I heard a young liberal white guy call in with apologies for being white and his inherent racism, I changed the station and never did find out who the broadcaster was.

[cyborg]

I would turn the station too. Such people are good for laughs.

[samtheman]

Malaria.
Tribal warfare.
Massive AIDS epidemic.
Intolerablly ruthless murderous dictatorships.
Crushing poverty.
Absolute corruption (the rich have everything, the poor have absolutely nothing).
Genocidal exterminations by Arab conquerors.
Genocidal exterminations by inter-tribal warfare.
Ripped off by the UN.
Abandoned by the UN.
Lied to by the UN.
Left to die by the UN.

Americans of African ancestry have been deprived of all that... and much, much more!

[Dianna]

I would turn the station too. Such people are good for laughs.

Honestly, the man worried me. I am aware that some people think that way. But I guess I never expected it might be a "mainstream" enough view to be raised publically. And maybe in less troubled areas, the guy would have been laughed out of town.

It bothers me that I am walking around (like most white people, I think) just believing that if I'm decent to everyone, then people will see that I'm decent. I feel like there might be an army forming behind me while I'm blithely walking around smiling and holding doors open for folks.

And isn't that the problem? Instead of just being nice, now I'm starting to worry about "their" secret motivations. Stupid.