There has been a great deal of talk in the United States about making
reparations for slavery. Although this would be a meritorious gesture, a
closer examination reveals that it’s actually an impossible task.
The first problem is determining exactly who should be the beneficiary of
these reparations. Very few records were kept on individual slaves, and even
fewer on their descendants. Meaning there is little proof available for any
claimants to offer.
Many people view slavery as a race issue in plain black and white terms,
and argue that all (and only) black people are owed reparations. However,
this is not the case. No race was immune. Even thirteenth president Millard
Fillmore, a white man, was sold into slavery in his youth. Also, black people
owned slaves as well.
(Besides, a substantial percentage of today’s black population immigrated
to the United States after slavery ended, and therefore never suffered its
indignities.)
Then there’s the question of who should pay.
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There is scant evidence on specific families and businesses who owned
slaves, and many of these families and businesses no longer exist or have left
the country. It would be highly unfair for the few known perpetrators to be
held solely accountable for the actions of so many, and not very lucrative for
the claimants.
This leaves the government.
However, the government gets its money from the citizens. As noted, a
substantial percentage of the current population of the United States
immigrated to this country after the abolition. These people should not have
to pay for something they had absolutely nothing to do with.
Then we must factor in the intangibles. Such as how many generations
and how many family members were enslaved, how long they lived and
under what conditions, etc. Obviously, the descendants of a family of 500
individuals who endured 200 years of slavery would be entitled to more
benefits than the descendants of one individual who was enslaved for only a
few years. Then there’s the question of those who are descended from both
slaves and slave owners, as well as freed slaves who later owned slaves.
Of course, the opposing lawyers will argue that the slaves were
compensated with free housing, food, clothing, education, medical care, job
training, etc. You know how lawyers are?