Maurice Johnson 10/18 Homework: SHOULD AFRICAN AMERICANS BE GIVEN REPARATIONS FOR SLAVERY

 

Maurice Johnson

    Reparations for slavery.  Were the conditions of slavery bad enough to recompensate current African Americans for what their ancestors went through? African Americans argue today for reparations--a sort of compensation for the free labor blacks were forced to render during 250 years of slavery. Reparations for the slavery is not a new idea. Before the Civil War ended, General William Tecumseh Sherman issued an order in South Carolina. He wanted 40 acres and the loan of an Army mule set aside for each former slave family. This order was never carried out. After the war, Radical Republicans in Congress passed laws requiring confiscation of former-Confederate property to provide the ex-slaves with "40 acres and a mule." In 1866, President Andrew Johnson vetoed the legislation.

   Throughout history, there has been many forms of genocide, slavery, and other inhumane actions against other social groups. In the 20th century, the country issued reparations for Japanese American internment, Native land seizures, massacres and police brutality. Literally every other social group in America but African Americans, why is that? Is its systematic racism? Is there a higher power that is attempting to keep African Americans in a hole? 250 years of slavery, with nothing. Building a country just to be kept under it. It is unfair and inhumane.