The Power To Win Reparations Is In Our Hands

The Black World Today ^ | 9/4/2002 | Ron Daniels

[Macaw]

During my remarks at the Millions for Reparations Mobilization March/Rally on Marcus Garvey Day in Washington, D.C., I noted that it would be helpful if Whites, Latinos, Asians, Native Americans and others within the liberal-left-progressive movement join with Africans in America in making reparations a centerpiece of the struggle for social justice and social transformation in the 21st century. In fact there was a sprinkling of Whites, some of who were members of the emerging organization Caucasians for Reparations (CUR) and other peoples of color at the March/Rally.

As a tactical matter, the American people should see the faces of non-Africans voicing their support for and mobilizing/organizing for reparations. In my capacity as Executive Director of the Center for Constitutional Rights and as a former Executive Director of the National Rainbow Coalition, I am committed to assist with this important outreach effort.

In this regard, there is no more important vehicle to broaden the base of support for reparations than HR-40, the Reparations Study Bill that Congressman John Conyers has introduced in the House of Representatives since 1989. Indeed, HR-40 is also an important vehicle for persuading reluctant Black people to consider the question of whether the sons and daughters of enslaved Africans should receive compensation. Proponents of reparations must press the case that at least the United States government should have the courage to “study” the question of what impact slavery had on Africans in America.

No matter what one’s current position is on reparations, the question is why shouldn’t this “peculiar institution,” that virtually everyone admits was a shameful chapter in U.S. history, be studied to assess the damages and ongoing effects on Africans in America? The presentation of the facts on the horrendous nature of the holocaust of enslavement would precipitate a national dialogue and debate that could only be useful in educating massive numbers of people about this issue and no doubt win new adherents for the cause even among Black people. Hence HR-40 is the indispensable common denominator around which the various forces within the reparations movement should coalesce to launch a major campaign for its passage.

While I feel it is important for others to support the struggle for reparations, I am very clear, as I expressed in my remarks at the March/Rally, that the power to win reparations is in our hands, Black hands! He/she who would be free must strike the first blow. When a critical mass of Africans in America are persuaded that our enslavement was one of the most horrendous crimes ever committed against a people in history, and that the U.S. government must apologize and make restitution to repair the damages, when a critical mass of Africans in America become righteously enraged, outraged, mobilized and organized, the struggle to win reparations will be over! The major impediment to winning reparations is our own lack of knowledge/awareness, our reluctance to offend White folks, our passivity, apathy, inaction and refusal to recognize that we have the weapons within our hands to make, that which appears improbable, possible.

Therefore, as I suggested in a previous article, the highest priority for advocates/proponents of reparations is to forge a united front to conduct a massive educational campaign to win the hearts and minds of Black people in this crucial struggle. We must convert non-believers into true believers and galvanize the conscious but inactive among us to become actively engaged in the struggle to win reparations.

The power to win reparations is in our hands, Black hands. We have the power to compel every candidate for public office in districts where our vote is important to address the issue of reparations and pledge support for HR-40 as a pre-condition for our support. We must wield our political power effectively to mobilize support for reparations. We have the power to march, rally, demonstrate and engage in civil disobedience, to disrupt politics, business and social life as usual in our just pursuit of reparations. “Power concedes nothing without a demand, it never has and it never will.” Once we have a critical mass of made up minds, we will do whatever is required to win reparations.

Mahatma Ghandi brought the mighty British Empire to its knees when he switched from his British made three-piece suit to a loin cloth and admonished the Indian people to return to spinning their own simple, culturally compatible clothing on their own home made spinning wheels. Beyond the symbolism, Ghandi was striking at the very heart, the motive force for British colonial domination of India, profit! By refusing to buy British products and engaging in massive non-violent campaigns for freedom, Ghandi drastically reduced the profitability of India as a British “possession” and dramatically increased the “cost” of occupation. Eventually the British cut their losses and granted independence.

The power to win reparations is in our hands, Black hands. Africans in America have an estimated gross national income of 800 billion to a trillion dollars. With a precarious economy so highly dependent on consumer spending, if Black people used boycotts and economic sanctions effectively, the financial and corporate elite of this nation would intervene in the political process to support HR-40 and endorse reparations as a means of appeasing those enraged, outraged, mobilized/organized Africans.

If we would pick a X-Mas season and consciously decide to keep our money (the life blood of this profit driven system) in our pockets, negotiations over the shape, form, method of payment and timetable for reparations would begin immediately. The power to win reparations is in our hands, Black hands. We will win reparations when a critical mass of Africans in America make up our minds to win! “Up you mighty race, you can accomplish what you will.”

[Macaw]

A few things jumped out at me.

1. Why is he still calling it Millions for Reparations Rally? Where were the millions?
2. He notes that "Africans in America" have 800 billion+ dollars. Why are Africans in America? Why don't they go home or does he mean Americans who are negros? And, if they have $800B, they surely don't need reparations!

[Lee Heggy]

These people disgust me. We should have picked our own cotton.

[GodBlessRonaldReagan]

Caucasians for Reparations (CUR)

Arf, arf

[BrooklynGOP]

If we would pick a X-Mas season and consciously decide to keep our money (the life blood of this profit driven system) in our pockets, negotiations over the shape, form, method of payment and timetable for reparations would begin immediately. The power to win reparations is in our hands, Black hands

Hmm. Many black hands will be empty handed when stores lay off people for lack of sales.

[Kenton]

“Up you mighty race, you can accomplish what you will.”

ROFLMAO.... yeah right... put down that 40 ouncer, quit expecting other people to give you something for nothing and get a job or something.

But please, not working in restaurants. You're move too damn slow for that.

[Blood of Tyrants]

I might go for it if every person who accepted reparations would agree to move their greedy ass to Africa and forever denounce their U.S. citizenship and all further claims to anything to do with the U.S.

[Fudd]

I still say that reparations are a farce, for a lot of reasons. One being that the average black person won't see a penny of the money. IF reparation ever happens, every law firm from LA to NY will be lining up, asking for their cut for the "work" that they claimed to put into making this happen, just like what happened when Big Tobacco settled with the government.

And if anyone doesn't believe me, I'll ask them to show me their tax refund from their state's share of the Tobacco deal.

[Lewite]

Isn't funny these sad sacks will play basketball from dusk to dawn in their housing projects. But will not do a days labor for any reason. They had rather their mammies and ho's support them, rather providing anything themselves. This is not raciest but the norm here in Birmingham!

[Always Right]

The power to win reparations is in our hands, Black hands. We have the power to compel every candidate for public office in districts where our vote is important to address the issue of reparations and pledge support for HR-40 as a pre-condition for our support.

Thank You!!!!! Make the Democrats play their hand!

[Joe Brower]

[mhking]

Black conservative ping

If you want on (or off) of my black conservative ping list, please let me know via FREEPmail. (And no, you don't have to be black to be on the list!)

Extra warning: this is a high-volume ping list.

[Semaphore Heathcliffe]

absolutely. This could ultimately lead to the implosion of the Democrat party.

[Thoro]

The power to win reparations is in our hands, Black hands.

Well, there is a half truth there at least. The power to win their own future is in their hands, Black hands. Nobody can fix their problems for them near as well as they can fix it themselves. But of course, this point is moot as reparations is really a code word for "free money". Re-read the article and substitute, and it becomes perfectly clear.

Africans in America have an estimated gross national income of 800 billion to a trillion dollars. With a precarious economy so highly dependent on consumer spending, if Black people used boycotts and economic sanctions effectively, the financial and corporate elite of this nation would intervene in the political process to support HR-40 and endorse reparations as a means of appeasing those enraged, outraged, mobilized/organized Africans.

Errr....Ok, let me see if I have this straight. They have money. They have enough of this money that they could be effective in damaging the economy if they so desired. And if they so desired, this would all be done in effort to gain money. So if they already have money, why do they need more money?

I still have yet to see any logical argument in favor of reparations. Since it is born out of "feelings" and not logic, common sense, and a real desire to improve the quality of life for Blacks, I highly doubt I ever will.

[kcamtx]

Ready for your daily grin....????? Get a dictionary and look up the definition "cur".

[Non-Sequitur]

How do you twist Caucasians for Reparations into the acronym CUR?

[MoGalahad]

Neither I nor any of my ancestors ever owned a slave. I owe these people nothing.

[mafree]

The power to properly educate our children, restore our families and clean up our neighborhoods is in our Black hands too. Until you do that, reparations won't do squat to help the Black community.

[BIGZ]

Where the sun don't shine!

[Grut]

These people disgust me. We should have picked our own cotton.

After a few more centuries of intermarriage, we will have; 'these people' are us, eventually. They need leadership, not sneers.

[nothingnew]

I noted that it would be helpful if Whites, Latinos, Asians, Native Americans and others within the liberal-left-progressive movement join with Africans in America in making reparations a centerpiece of the struggle for social justice and social transformation in the 21st century.

"nuff said

(Millions for Reparations Rally, indeed. BWAHAHAHA!)

FMCDH

[3Lean]

1. "Millions for Reparations" rally has nothing to do with the number of attendees, I think that is an estimate of how much they wish to extort...
2. I am all for reparations. Those of us whose families arrived after slavery was abolished should be able to sue the former slaveholders families for importing a group of people who would disproportionately consume government services, prison cells, fail to contribute to the economy and eventually attempt to drain massive amounts of tax money from the rest of us.

[Dionysius]

Affirmative Action, Preferments, Quotas, AFDC, Section 8, Food stamps, Medicaid, Riot Relief... etc,etc. Seems to me they've already gotten their reparations.

[pupdog]

How do you twist Caucasians for Reparations into the acronym CUR?

The actual organization is called CURE, which stands for "Caucasians United for Reparations and Emancipation."

[Randjuke]

Some of the comments in here are sure tiptoeing along the lines of racism. I am 100% against reparations, but there are plenty of hard-working intelligent blacks that I personally would like to see join our conservative cause. Chacterizing them as slow-moving, playing basketball all day and relying on "mammies" and "hos" serves no one.

[joesnuffy]

Mahatma Ghandi brought the mighty British Empire to its knees when he switched from his British made three-piece suit to a loin cloth and admonished the Indian people to return to spinning their own simple, culturally compatible clothing on their own home made spinning wheels.

Ghandi got the mighty British Empire to aquiesce in India ...the reason being not Ghandis superior skills but the lack of British will to do what was necessary...probably because they were Christians... It would have been a different story for Mahatma to have had his people to lay down on the railroad tracks in front of Soviet or Chinese manned trains...

[Minnesoootan]

That stuck out like a sore thumb the first time I read it,but,cUr? cFr makes sense,and we all know what that definition stands for!

cowardly,inferior dogs,hee heee,oh,that is rich!

[Random Access]

I came of age in the 60's during the main civil rights movement. If you had asked me, or most people, at the time if we would still be a nation divided 40 years later by something as stupid as reparations, no one would have guessed. The main problem with the reparations movement is that it is the most divisive issue in race relations today. It is not going anywhere, it only divides. No point except to pit races against each other.

Lets talk about educating black children in city schools. Lets talk about successful black people and what attributes they have that contributed to their success. Lets look at black pop culture, wiggers, hip-hop, gangs, drugs, and some real problems that there might be real answers for. Reparations is a divisive waste of time.

[A2J]

Why is he still calling it Millions for Reparations Rally? Where were the millions?

Maybe they see the "millions" in dollars they hope to steal from the rest of us.

[A2J]

Some of the comments in here are sure tiptoeing along the lines of racism. I am 100% against reparations, but there are plenty of hard-working intelligent blacks that I personally would like to see join our conservative cause. Chacterizing them as slow-moving, playing basketball all day and relying on "mammies" and "hos" serves no one.

But it's not these blacks we want in the conservative movement. Those who seek reparations are "slow-moving, basketball-playing slugs who are interested in hos."

We only want the ones who are not interested in bettering themselves on the backs of others but who take their own destiny by the reins and never lets go.

[john in missouri]

I might go for it if every person who accepted reparations would agree to move their greedy ass to Africa and forever denounce their U.S. citizenship and all further claims to anything to do with the U.S.

This only makes since, since these people seek to undo the effects suffered as a result of slavery. Well, while not denying or minimizing any past injustices occurred, a large portion of those effects are that they now live, for better or worse, in the United States of America instead of in Liberia or Sierra Leone.

If they want reparations, fine. Give them the whole package -- and yes, it includes a restoration to where they would otherwise be now. Anything else is patently and obviously unfair.

[john in missouri]

"since" = sense

[Randjuke]

I see your point, but I don't see how using terms that many blacks would find insulting, including the ones we are trying to attract, serves our purpose.

[strela]

Once we have a critical mass of made up minds, we will do whatever is required to win reparations.

"By any means necessary." Where have we heard that before?

Three points:

1. Slavery in the United States was perfectly legal at one time. Will these "reparations" include the reimbursement (including interest) of those who had their legally-purchased and legally-held human property confiscated from them in the period of and after the Civil War?

2. How much liability will the descendents of those Africans who willingly captured and brought their own people to the US to be sold into slavery incur?

3. How many generations of a former slave will be eligible for reparations? Will the total dollar amount of reparations decline the further up the family tree one is? What is the standard of proof that will be required to prove descendency from a former slave?

[schu]

I visited the CURE web site, it is very interesting. These people just hate themselves, and they consider western culture to be essentially immoral. I cannot imagine have such self-loathing, I do not understand where it leads you.

As a previous poster wrote, neither I not any of my ancestors owned slaves, they were farmers in Illinois. My great-great grandfather was wounded 7 times in the Civil War; it took him 5 years to get his life back together after he went home. When he died he still had multiple pieces of shrapnel in his body.

But it is clear that this argument only serves the poverty pimps, the race baiters and the Democrat Party. Blacks just continue to be used by these people; it is astounding that they cannot see what is happening to them.

[Flashman_at_the_charge]

"The major impediment to winning reparations is our own lack of knowledge/awareness, our reluctance to offend White folks, our passivity, apathy, inaction and refusal to recognize that we have the weapons within our hands to make, that which appears improbable, possible. "

The reason that people fail to do well in America is also due to "passivity, apathy, inaction". Try getting off your arse, using your brain as a "weapon" and getting some skills that are in demand.

I can’t believe his argument that blacks have so much money to spend that by not spending it they would show the rest of America how poor they are. The man’s an idiot.

[Lee Heggy]

I wasn't refering to the entire African American culture but rather to a very vocal and small parasitical element within it that has self-proclaimed itself to be the 'leadership' they so desparately need. People have been inter-marrying since time began and we still have seperate racial groups. America is a melting pot truely but the slag must be removed occassionaly if a better result is desired.

[martin gibson]

...Some of the comments in here are sure tiptoeing along the lines of racism...

Oh my goodness, of course it's racism. What else could it be? No, wait...I know!!

It's HATE SPEECH by people who have commited THOUGHT CRIME!!!

It's RACIST HATE SPEECH by WHITE, CONSERVATIVE, MALE, THOUGHT CRIMINALS who probably DO NOT LOVE THE PLANET!!!

Dude, thank you so very much for bringing this to our attention. The next time I need someone to proof my posts for political correctness, I will ask you first!!!

[Randjuke]

Dude, thank you so very much for bringing this to our attention. The next time I need someone to proof my posts for political correctness, I will ask you first!!!

Thanks for your thoughtful post.
Sincerely,
Dude

[Bush2000]

Nothing will set the civil rights movement farther back than this call for reparations. Martin Luther King sought a level playing field -- not handouts. He must be doing 360s in his grave over this nonsense -- which is nothing more than a Hail Mary pass by some so-called black community "leaders". They have failed to galvanize the black community and tackle the tough issues: illiteracy, poverty, out-of-wedlock births, drug addiction, broken families, welfare dependence, etc. So, rather than try to tackle the problems head-on, these so-called "leaders" do meaningless things like try to eliminate the Confederate flag wherever it's displayed, pitch ebonics as an alternative to English, promote the creation of new ethnic holidays, get school boards to ban classic American literature, etc, etc. None of these things increase the likelihood that anyone will lift himself (or herself) from poverty or improve living conditions. Sensing that they've reached the end of their rope, they pitch reparations as a carrot to keep their constituency loyal. But anyone who's paying attention can see that it's nothing more than a shell game. The poverty pimps (Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, etc) are simply getting too fat to care.