Why we deserve reparations

Recently there has been much debate about Black America�s claim to reparations. The responses have come from mainly white Americans and a few insensitive and uninformed Blacks who say that we do not deserve reparations. I would like to make my position clear in favor of reparations citing several cases.

The Japanese are paying Koreans and British individuals for slave labor during World War II. Companies in Germany and Korea are now paying reparations for slave labor that enriched their companies during World War II. During that time, these companies enriched themselves from slave labor. How much should companies, or even the government of America, pay to Black Americans for over 300 years of free slave labor?

Those that say we do not deserve reparations for slavery because it was a long time ago should take a more comprehensive look. The reasoning that it was a long time ago is totally ridiculous. The terrible and wretched condition of Black people in the country is a direct result of slavery and post-slavery laws that were put in place. Not only is reparations due from the U.S. government, but also major corporations who continued practices after slavery that caused unjust pain and suffering of Black people even until this very day.

There are corporations in America that have enriched themselves from the robbery, unfair treatment, discriminatory wage scales, unjust store credit accounts used against Black sharecroppers and the list goes on. The 40-acres and a mule that were never delivered, the land owned by Blacks, that was snatched by the U.S. Government are other justifications for reparations. Read the book, "Soul to Soul" by a Black Russian woman, on how her great grandfather was robbed of his land in Mississippi.

In the state of Alabama, from the 1940s through the 1970s and perhaps later, Liberty National Insurance admittedly charged Black Americans more for their policies than white Americans. This, however, was and is a normal practice for insurance companies and represents only one. Aetna Insurance, a very old insurance company, during the slave period insured the slaves of the slave-master as one would insure a car or other property today. Aetna Insurance admitted that it was wrong to insure slaves for the slave master and is trying to make it right by doing certain things for the Black community today.

We as a people deserve reparations.