|
Forty Acres and A Mule - Reparations
NMB, Florida September 5, 2001 A.H. Schectman
THINKING ALLOWED
Essays on Issues, Ideas and Reflections on the Times. Published Now and
Then. Opinions Pro or Con Are Welcome.
FORTY ACRES AND A MULE - REPARATIONS
We didn't do the "Forty Acres and Mule" and I am all for "reparations." Do
you know your American history? Millions of Africans were enslaved and
brought to this country and were bought and sold like acres of land and
mules. The individuals who were enslaved are long since gone and their
descendants are here with us as reminders of that past. I think appropriate
reparations would be free medical care for everybody, jobs and a secure old
age for everybody and freedom from war for everybody.
The idea of recompensing freed slaves with forty acres of land for farming
and a mule to act as the labor or farm machinery to help cultivate is an
interesting one. It became instantly famous. It articulated a simple
formula that everyone could understand and sort of accept. It steamrollered
the process of freeing the slaves but not one got land or the fabulous mule.
Instead, there was political double-talk and chicanery and outright
re-enslavement of a race of people through a deal when it became time to
choose a president in the 1870's. This one was done in the House of
Representatives instead of the Supreme Court that did the honors in 2000.
It is interesting to note that in the Durban Conference on Race there is an
American lack of interest in reparations for Black people. It is pointed
out that Americans and Israelis support relief for the inhuman treatment of
the slaves of Nazi Germany but they should more properly focus on the plight
of Palestinians enslaved in their own land. The Arab nations, joined by
third world countries and others, who feast on the spectacle of a humbled
America and rejoice at the smearing of Israel, had taken over the
Conference. There is much debate right now about whether Colin Powell should
have attended and if America and Israel should have walked out.
There should be a lot of debate about the idea of reparation for Black
descendents of slavery. I noticed that there is no one spokesperson for ALL
Black people on this issue. There are as many different opinions as there
are non-whites. But, they should all be urged to speak out and be listened
to. What do you think?
Carol's Evaluation: 10 out of 10.
|
 |
|