In a discussion about the conservative messaging about reparations to the Black Community, I gave my personal opinion on the topic. I don’t go into detail about how it should specifically look or be paid out because I need to do more research of the economic impacts of some plans already being discussed. Yes, I am for reparations. Before you jump to conclusions though, hear me out.
Reparations matter to the larger portion of the Black community and going forward with our theme of economic empowerment [theme of the conscious conservative movement], conservatives should talk about it in the scope economic freedom. The Black community spends annually trillions in areas of beauty, music and athletics and it would behoove conservatives to not only capture that economic power through legislation to help our community, but it could be a selling point to grow the base at a time when progressives are determined to undermine our growth. We could win by taking over this topic through policies that embolden Blacks and America overall through listening to the people instead of running from the subject.
Republicans have typically reframed or even been against reparations because they see it as a charge against white Americans who had nothing to do with slavery. That isn’t the reason for reparations and framing it this way is disingenuous. I use to be against it as well, to be honest here, because I thought it was another form of welfare that could hurt us in the long run. Then, I got paid by the the Department of Veteran Affairs for my military disability. It is like workman’s comp. I realized that paying the Black community for the pain, suffering and losses for just being brought or born here was the least America could do, I mean our taxes go to others.
I’d like to add the the Republican Party has not done anything to stop our constant outpouring of American tax dollars to foreign countries, even those that wish death on us. We have now lost an election and have a President ready to reward criminal aliens with amnesty for doing absolutely nothing but ignoring our immigration laws. How then does it make sense to tell descendants of slaves that our call for restitution is too much to ask? Why is it too much to give to our own countrymen when we give to allies in foreign nations who haven’t done anything close to what Black Americans have? With the payment of reparations, may be then the country could move on from the issues of slavery and Jim Crow to one of financial equal footing for Blacks who help build this country and served in every war even without independence at times.
To the topic, I think conservatives should frame reparations as a way to make things right with the Black community from the mistakes of FDR’s New Deal, Jim Crow and mass incarnation. We should pay those direct descendants and balance that by conserving funds from foreign aid. I don’t know how the specifics would go but I am against a lifetime or monthly stipend because that breeds dependency.
Conservatives have to stop running away from issues that we could win on when it comes to minorities, women and LGTB in this country. It isn’t identity politics or white hate to admit America was wrong and this is a way to make things right because of that. This is just what I think though
The America gov’t did at one time promise land and mules to the Black community that was rescinded so to this idea, that we descendants aren’t owed what was promised to our ancestors just because time has passed it dishonest. It is as if some people want to move passed things without coming full circle and closing out the contract that America never fulfilled. The Civil War both free and many races died to end slavery, there was no recommence for admitting it existed. The Civil Rights act stopped discriminations going forward from 1964 but it did nothing to pay for the discrimination that the American law actually allowed. Where is the actually payment for the wrong committed? Where are the trillions lost as a result of burning down and destroying the wealth generated by Black Wall street? There wasn’t just homes destroyed, but banks, insurance companies, jobs and livelihoods. The future for our children was built right through by highways like i95 though Richmond.
America has a debt to the Black community. Just because many of us learned to make it and succeed without that payment does not mean it is not owed. If you hit my car and I fix it without your insurance, does this mean you should pay for what you did? It is easy for people to say “Let’s move on”. Reparations are not a hand out or a welfare, they are the right thing to do and Republicans could be the ones to finally get it done.
