Reparations for US Slavery

The case for reparations for slavery in the US has become a news item in the US presidential campaign.  Bernie Sanders said he does not believe in reparations and squelched any discussion as "divisive" in an interview with Fusion.net.  The news generated headlines.

Reparations is clearly a Black economic issue, so we though we would look close at some of the popular articles on reparations. All articles are neutral or pro-reparations and all agree actual reparations are impossible. Most articles support studying the issue.

The Evil Black Economist supports a comprehensive study of the economic damage slavery, segregation and jim-crow discrimination did to Black people in the US between 1800 and 1960.

To start, here is nice summary of the issue in a one page format: Reparations for Slavery by Constitution Rights Center

One of the most comprehensive cases made for reparations is the article by Ta-Nehisi Coates.  He has almost single-handedly put the issue into the political discourse.  Everyone should read his article.

The Case for Reparations by Ta-Nehisi Coates in The Atlantic

Reparations are Owed by Jamelle Bouie in Slate

US Slaves worth more than all industrial capital by Mathew Yglesais in Slate who quote the most interesting chart from Piketty and Zucman's paper on Capital including the value of US slaves.

A bill to study reparations has been introduced in every session since 1989 by Representative John Conyers of MIchigan.

Jamaica calls on UK to pay reparations by Rowena Mason in The Guardian

William A Darity of Duke university wrote a paper in 2008 called 40 Acres and a Mule in the 21st Century which looks at some of the issue involved.  The paper summarizes the estimated monetary damages. It also disucsses the lack of popular support.


and of course

Dave Chapelle on Reparations