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[AlimNassor]

Average Salary in 1900: $449
x # of years worked by slave (their entire life): 70 x 449 = $31,430
x # of generations of slaves (since brought to America in 1619): $31,430 x 6 = $188,580

Adjust for 2016 currency: $5,415,944.92

So each black person gets $5.4 million.

Spoiler

estimate

Considering how we enslaved and are still butchering them, I say that's the bare minimum we should do. America's wealth came from the blood of millions of innocent people. So, I do say America should be doing everything in it's power to help the lives of those people they have destroyed.

 

[Log4Girlz]

In other words, "sorry non-white people, but on the off chance we actually pass good policies, you might catch up with us in 10 generations or so. Good luck! By the way, I'm going to move into the house my parents were able to get with a low interest loan in a previously segregated community after World War II."

Or far fewer generations. Otherwise, yeah, realistically good luck. I don't think even having every single african american, every single person who identifies as black march on Washington and do a year long sit in will result in any kind of reparations.

I think we need to discuss what reparations are supposed to do and see how we go about getting similar results without discussing how to implement a policy that we all know realistically is never going to happen. I mean, if you think its realistically going to happen, then I don't know what to tell you.

 

[Byakuya769]

Even if he was for reparations, a Republican-led Congress would laugh in his face while ripping that bill in half.

Monetary reparations would do little to repair the race barrier that continues in this country. It would infuriate conservative whites and the rhetoric would only intensify. Politicians have a moral obligation to rectify these injustices, too.

Did you read the article? That's kind of the point. Republican congress is going to rip up all of his pie in the sky policies.

 

[gamechanger87]

Considering how we enslaved and are still butchering them, I say that's the bare minimum we should do. America's wealth came from the blood of millions of innocent people. So, I do say America should be doing everything in it's power to help the lives of those people they have destroyed.

I can't tell if this is sarcasm or not. Unfortunately I don't think it is.

Spoiler

Payment would be $237T or approximately the same value as all of the wealth currently available in the world.

Edit: Read through your other posts. This definitely isn't sarcasm.

 

[Izuna]

I'm going to be honest for all the shit African America had(and still are) to put up they each honestly deserve 1 million dollars each but that Is never going to happen and even then it probably won't fix the disparity economically between Blacks and Whites. We could say more reasonable and long term benefits like free medical care and College but honestly everybody deserves that. Really most people already believe that Bernie Sanders ideas are merely a fantasy asking for reparations will just make them think he a clown and desperate for votes. It's a sad situation but we are living in a society where blacks are killed for just wearing hoodies to think they will in these times get reparation is beyond wishful thinking.

$1m for every black person won't change the racism they face. And of COURSE it would change the disparity of blacks and whites. How many white people do you think are worth more than $1m?

Also free college is a strange suggestion considering the % of people that actually go to college. Even if it were only black people of America deciding to all go to college there wouldn't be space for all of them.

None of these systems make sense, just the reasons behind them.

 

[LegendofLex]

Did you read the article? That's kind of the point. Republican congress is going to rip up all of his pie in the sky policies.

As others have pointed out, I think Bernie is banking on his campaign spurring a large voter turnout - drawing from the widespread support for many of his policies - that would change the makeup of Congress.

I don't think reparations is on the shortlist of policies that he thinks have the widespread support to drive this kind of voter activity.

And the point of Coates's article is that this fact - that the presidential candidate who's considered the radical leftist won't get behind reparations for the damages wrought by white supremacy - demonstrates how far we still have to go before society can make amends for racist injustices.

Nothing is ever equal. If Sanders can't convince minority voters that his policies/plans to reverse the inequalities they face on a daily basis aren't worth risking shifting their support from the safe bet (and based on the countless threads posted questioning his responses he hasn't than it really doesn't matter much what Hillary thinks on the subject.

I get this, I just don't ultimately understand the logic actually at play in setting reparations as some kind of ultimatum/deciding issue, since reparations (while very important) won't actually contribute anything to reversing systemic inequalities.

But electing a safe candidate is definitely a surer bet than risking a Republican president.

 

[2 Slice Toaster]

Sure, but if being the "safer candidate" can be lauded as a virtue, then singling out one candidate for criticism for expressing a clearly "safe" position seems a bit intellectually dishonest, doesn't it?

Nothing is ever equal. If Sanders can't convince minority voters that his policies/plans to reverse the inequalities they face on a daily basis aren't worth risking shifting their support from the safe bet (and based on the repeated scrutiny questioning his responses he hasn't) than it really doesn't matter much what Hillary thinks on the subject.

 

[LookAtMeGo]

At least helping fund businesses and post secondary education would be a start. I mean they try this here in Canada for the First Nations people who have Métis status. But even then its a fucking joke here since you have to live on a reserve to qualify for post secondary financial support. It wasn't even until 1973 (I think) that they allowed aboriginal Canadians to have education of their own in their own language and shit. Plus a whole shit ton of applications are denied for whatever reason for the post secondary stuff. Its going to be a long uphill battle for any kind of government support and funding even after they pass any kind of bills or whatever IMO. I hope black folk get their reparations in some form soon though. Apologies dont fix history (neither does money really). Same for my FN brothers here in Canada. Shits a disgrace.

 

[Kid Kamikaze10]

Did you read the article? That's kind of the point. Republican congress is going to rip up all of his pie in the sky policies.

Bingo. Clearly Sander's more radical ideas have a limit.

Can't say I'm a fan of that limit though.

 

[Your Entertainer]

Did you read the article? That's kind of the point. Republican congress is going to rip up all of his pie in the sky policies.

Just to speak to this point, they'd do this no matter which Dem was in office. It is absolutely critical that Dems get out there and vote in the midterms to change the makeup of Congress.

 

[East Lake]

Actually this just occurred to me: all this talk about Sanders and reparations, does anyone know if Hilary has made a case for reparations? Has she done anything in her history for reparations?

I just feel it kind of weird to single Bernie out on this stance when you can probably criticize most politicians on both sides about avoiding the issue at all costs.

The atlantic readership is almost certainly for the most part white upper class liberals who have no interest in rocking the establishment and are perfectly comfortable buying into a fundamentally defeatist world view that ta-nehisi coates offers, as it allows them to accept guilt and in the back of their minds know nothing will come of it.

 

[Inuhanyou]

Reparations makes no sense against actual regime change in favor of the lower and middle classes primarily full of minorities(including us blacks)

Do you want to teach a person how to fish or give them a single fish to eat?

If you change the system to be fair, then those disproportionately effected from our rigged system also become more well off. That's worth far more than sending a single check worth of "we're sorry" money.

 

[jhmtehgamr20xx]

simple answer to this:

Get over it already! it's 2016! jeez ppl...
and if you don't want to, well consider pay reparations to Mexico, Spain, Japan, and some others as well.

edit: 2016*

Dumbed down by Kingdom Hearts confirmed?

Oh oh KH fans, you got full-blown idiots like kennyamr giving you guys a bad look.

 

[LegendofLex]

Reparations makes no sense against actual regime change in favor of the lower and middle classes primarily full of minorities(including us blacks)

Do you want to teach a person how to fish or give them a single fish to eat?

If you change the system to be fair, then those disproportionately effected from our rigged system also become more well off. That's worth far more than sending a single check worth of "we're sorry" money.

TBH, shouldn't both of these things happen?

edit:

Or, or you can do both.

Because even a system change will still leave folks disenfranchised in the meantime.

Are you looking for equality, or "equality" while a bunch of folks have a head start?

 

[Kid Kamikaze10]

Reparations makes no sense against actual regime change in favor of the lower and middle classes primarily full of minorities(including us blacks)

Do you want to teach a person how to fish or give them a single fish to eat?

If you change the system to be fair, then those disproportionately effected from our rigged system also become more well off. That's worth far more than sending a single check worth of "we're sorry" money.

Or, or you can do both.

Because even a system change will still leave folks disenfranchised in the meantime.

Are you looking for equality, or "equality" while a bunch of folks have a head start?

 

[Inuhanyou]

TBH, shouldn't both of these things happen?

No. If that was the case, the government would be endlessly handing out checks to many races and ethnic groups based on state sanctioned spying or bias that have already happened at one point or the other

We need actual fixing of our underlying broken systemic issues, and a check from the government aint gonna do that.

 

[Thelonelykoopa]

$1m for every black person won't change the racism they face. And of COURSE it would change the disparity of blacks and whites. How many white people do you think are worth more than $1m?

Also free college is a strange suggestion considering the % of people that actually go to college. Even if it were only black people of America deciding to all go to college there wouldn't be space for all of them.

None of these systems make sense, just the reasons behind them.

I mean 1 million dollars can go fast without ability to keep an income and manage money that benefit will be gone in a generation or less which is why reparation of cash wouldn't be a long term solution.

Free college is a way to get up the ladder of success which is why I suggest it though admittedly the real cost of college is through housing and the expensive food and not tuition for many. I mean I'm in a situation where my families so poor I'm literally making a profit from going to college but even if that sounds awesome it requires yourself to currently to be in my families position which I would wish that upon nobody .But free tuition will make it more enticing for more people even if your a non-commuter and have to pay for housing and food.

 

[Izuna]

Or, or you can do both.

Because even a system change will still leave folks disenfranchised in the meantime.

Are you looking for equality, or "equality" while a bunch of folks have a head start?

So a 100% inheritance tax?

 

[LegendofLex]

No. If that was the case, the government would be endlessly handing out checks to many races and ethnic groups based on state sanctioned spying or bias that have already happened at one point or the other

We need actual fixing of our underlying broken systemic issues, and a check from the government aint gonna do that.

We're not just talking spying and bias; we're talking material, monetary damages that have gone unaddressed, too.

From the article:

If not even an avowed socialist can be bothered to grapple with reparations, if the question really is that far beyond the pale, if Bernie Sanders truly believes that victims of the Tulsa pogrom deserved nothing, that the victims of contract lending deserve nothing, that the victims of debt peonage deserve nothing, that that political plunder of black communities entitle them to nothing, if this is the candidate of the radical left—then expect white supremacy in America to endure well beyond our lifetimes and lifetimes of our children. Reparations is not one possible tool against white supremacy. It is the indispensable tool against white supremacy. One cannot propose to plunder a people, incur a moral and monetary debt, propose to never pay it back, and then claim to be seriously engaging in the fight against white supremacy.

http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2016/01/bernie-sanders-reparations/424602/

Notice also that I'm proposing both: fix the underlying structural issues (fix them first, even), and make sure the economic damage wrought by those structural issues is not only prevented from happening in the future but actually reversed in the here and now.

 

[richsena]

Honestly, there's no point for a candidate with real presidential aspirations to propose policies that will not only hurt, but outright prevent any chance of a nomination.

RUN-ON SENTENCE ALERT:
I know the article makes an argument that Sanders is going to have a heck of a time passing a good portion of his policies through a Republican controlled Congress, and he might as well go gung-ho on his humaniarian agenda, but this article isn't even getting written if he proposes reparations because Sanders would of already dropped out of the race.

 

[beato_angelico]

Are you looking for equality, or "equality" while a bunch of folks have a head start?

so you want a revolution then? do you think you can have a revolution with elections?

 

[Kid Kamikaze10]

so you want a revolution then? do you think you can have a revolution with elections?

Hey, there's only one candidate on the Democratic side saying he wants a "revolution".

And right now, it's being seen as lacking in tackling this nation's oldest crime.

 

[jmood88]

Reparations makes no sense against actual regime change in favor of the lower and middle classes primarily full of minorities(including us blacks)

Do you want to teach a person how to fish or give them a single fish to eat?

If you change the system to be fair, then those disproportionately effected from our rigged system also become more well off. That's worth far more than sending a single check worth of "we're sorry" money.

Not if you continue to ignore the non-economic issues. We've already had a bunch of programs/initiatives that are supposed to help without giving money but, because this country is racist, they've never been applied fairly. Also, in this world where reparations actually happened, there's nothing stopping the government from making a fair system and giving reparations to those who have been screwed over by the unfair system.

 

[excelsiorlef]

so you want a revolution then? do you think you can have a revolution with elections?

Sanders entire persona is that of a rebel and that a vote for him is an act of democratic revolution.

Hey, there's only one candidate on the Democratic side saying he wants a "revolution".

And right now, it's being seen as lacking in tackling this nation's oldest crime.

Ding!

 

[xxRONN1Nxx]

This topic is amazingly interesting. I really enjoy reading people's political stance on things. I hope I don't get nailed to the wall but here goes. I'm from the south (Texas Gulf coast) about 20 between Beaumont and Port Arthur. I'm white but I grew up in a 100% black community. It was a rough part of town. All my friends were black. I was always at their house and they were at mine. I've seen how hard it is for black first hand. Hell my family was poor. One thing I took from there was some awesome friendships o still have to this day. Then when I was 15 my grandparents gave my parents a house in a white town and boy was that a culture shock to me. I've got so much trouble with this particular issue. Not that I do not support it, but more how could I afford it myself. I'm still very broke and struggle for gas to get to work daily. I wanna help any ethnic group suppressed by horrible past from the government or whomever. What I mean is they were to pass some sort of reparations how could I afford to feed my son and live and pay an extra tax to help blacks or whomever out. I would love to see people be helped or fix the wrongs that were done in the past I just wish somebody could find a way to fund it without hitting everybody to hard.

I say hammer the rich lol jk

 

[East Lake]

Hey, there's only one candidate on the Democratic side saying he wants a "revolution".

And right now, it's being seen as lacking in tackling this nation's oldest crime.

When he says revolution, do you think he also means marxism? If not, do you think it's lacking in its ability to tackle class issues?

 

[Inuhanyou]

Or, or you can do both.

Because even a system change will still leave folks disenfranchised in the meantime.

Are you looking for equality, or "equality" while a bunch of folks have a head start?

So, what is your suggestion, how much should each individual get, and on what basis, and how would that be decided? Is it only black people who get this money, or is it the natives, the irish, the chinese americans, the Japanese Americans, the Muslims, and the Latinos who carry our lowest level field work? Does it apply to illegals or just non illegals as well?

 

[JustenP88]

I see a lot of people constantly decrying politicians for targeting racial issues from an economic angle and not focusing on the social aspect but... I don't understand what a focus on this 'social' aspect would look like coming from a politician trying to win a national election.

What sort of policies can the federal government implement to address the social aspects of racism? It seems to me, if we're being even remotely practical, addressing the ridiculous economic/opportunity inequality would be about the best thing the government could do. Get kids into higher education, make sure they can eat, break cycles of perpetual property.

Also, Democrats need to do a better job in southern states instead of looking around for people to blame for their failures/being defeatist about liberal policies because "oh no Republicans." Tired of this "pie in the sky" bullshit.

 

[Metrotab]

I wonder how many of Sanders' supporters would be pro-reparations. I doubt there are many.

 

[excelsiorlef]

This thread is great because many Bernie fans are now adopting the same we have to be pragmatic approach that they've been so angry at minorities for adopting in their support of Hillary.

 

[Izuna]

I mean 1 million dollars can go fast without ability to keep an income that benefit will be gone in a decade or less.

Free college is a way to get up the ladder of success which is why I suggest it though admittedly the real cost of college is through housing and the expensive food and not tuition for many. I mean I'm in a situation where my families so poor I'm literally making a profit from going to college but even if that sounds awesome it requires yourself to currently to be in my families position which I would wish that upon nobody .But free tuition will make it more enticing for more people even if your a non-commuter and have to pay for housing and food.

$1m in today's money is about how much the average person will make in their lifetimes.

Also you have to remember that magically giving every black person degrees isn't going to beat institutional racism. Even so, a lot of companies won't give a shit about the higher education and hire the same people anyway. But they're all millionaires, so why would they work a graduate job?

Reparations in the form of making the next generation not suffer what previous generations have had to is the best choice imo. If the next generation's professors, employers etc. are not racist and next generation's people got a solid schooling from childhood then that's great.

It may not seem like reparations, but it wouldn't happen without action anyway.

 

[jmood88]

This thread is great because many Bernie fans are now adopting the same we have to be pragmatic approach that they've been so angry at minorities adopting in their support of Hillary.

Yup, it's pretty interesting to see.

 

[ANDS]

It's a pointless measure. If the United States isn't even going to apologize for it's role, what good would reparations do? It's like a sealed settlement where the paying party doesn't admit wrong doing.

Finger wagging Sanders because he doesn't buy into this meaningless posturing is ludicrous.

 

[OrangeGrayBlue]

Why do people that post bullshit like this always have anime avatars?

So I'm not the only one that notices this?

Technically video game but I hear you.

Theory: people with anime avatars are more likely to have been the overtly "otaku" kids in middle and high school and maybe into college, and were marginalized and mocked and bullied for openly indulging in hobbies considered weird or unpopular. As a result, it makes them especially uncomfortable to then consider that they should have to answer for someone else's marginalization.

 

[LegendofLex]

It's a pointless measure. If the United States isn't even going to apologize for it's role, what good would reparations do?

It would literally repay the monetary debts owed to black people by society.

But unless the policies that created those debts disappear first, you're right, it will ultimately be a meaningless gesture.

 

[excelsiorlef]

Theory: people with anime avatars are more likely to have been the overtly "otaku" kids in middle and high school and maybe into college, and were marginalized and mocked and bullied for openly indulging in hobbies considered weird or unpopular. As a result, it makes them especially uncomfortable to then consider that they should have to answer for someone else's marginalization.

So basically Otaku is the New Black?

 

[King Tubby]

Hey, there's only one candidate on the Democratic side saying he wants a "revolution".

And right now, it's being seen as lacking in tackling this nation's oldest crime.

Sanders is campaigning for a revolution against the corporate class pillaging the wealth of the middle/working/lower class and manipulating democracy, not a full scale leftist revolution overturning all social injustice. Why not ask him his stance on ending the patriarchy, as well?

 

[finowns]

This thread is great because many Bernie fans are now adopting the same we have to be pragmatic approach that they've been so angry at minorities for adopting in their support of Hillary.

GAF you got to let this Bernie fans vs Hillary fans stuff go. The last debate thread was retarded.

 

[Inuhanyou]

This thread is great because many Bernie fans are now adopting the same we have to be pragmatic approach that they've been so angry at minorities for adopting in their support of Hillary.

I'm not exactly sure what you mean by that?

 

[East Lake]

This thread is great because many Bernie fans are now adopting the same we have to be pragmatic approach that they've been so angry at minorities for adopting in their support of Hillary.

Bernie isn't going to support things that don't enjoy any public support, it might be hard for writers at the atlantic to imagine that but it's plainly obvious for anyone who isn't delusional.

 

[excelsiorlef]

Sanders is campaigning for a revolution against the corporate class pillaging the wealth of the middle/working/lower class and manipulating democracy, not a full scale leftist revolution overturning all social injustice. Why not ask him his stance on ending the patriarchy, as well?

That's actually a great idea.

You're being sarcastic but he should take a stance there too.

Or his fans should want him too anyway.

 

[Thelonelykoopa]

$1m in today's money is about how much the average person will make in their lifetimes.

Also you have to remember that magically giving every black person degrees isn't going to beat institutional racism. Even so, a lot of companies won't give a shit about the higher education and hire the same people anyway. But they're all millionaires, so why would they work a graduate job?

Reparations in the form of making the next generation not suffer what previous generations have had to is the best choice imo. If the next generation's professors, employers etc. are not racist and next generation's people got a solid schooling from childhood then that's great.

It may not seem like reparations, but it wouldn't happen without action anyway.

Your confusing my reasoning here. 1 million dollars can disappear fast if you have it just look at many lottery winners; people are awful with dealing with money. I said they deserve a million dollars for the shit they put up with not that they will get it or it would even help.

Also I didn't suggest giving a person magically a degree you have to work for a degree because without the studying the degree doesn't mean shit. I also said everybody deserve to have access to free college (Tuition; I'm not sure if any country has free housing for college and food).

Also read my original statement it's essentially saying what your saying in that Blacks today are getting killed for wearing hoodies ; Fixing issues like that is most important not giving money out as I explained in my first paragraph here.

 

[Zornack]

Bernie isn't going to support things that don't enjoy any public support, it might be hard for writers at the atlantic to imagine that but it's plainly obvious for anyone who isn't delusional.

Yeah, like raising taxes.

Er, wait..

 

[JesseEwiak]

Bernie isn't going to support things that don't enjoy any public support, it might be hard for writers at the atlantic to imagine that but it's plainly obvious for anyone who isn't delusional.

Then why is he for middle class tax hikes, for the Iran deal, massive spending increases, a $15 minimum wage, amnesty, and every other piece on the liberal wish list that only has 50% support if you describe none of the downsides?

 

[East Lake]

Yeah, like raising taxes.

Er, wait..

That's like one thing you could find support for easily in polling data. Try again later?

 

[That1BlackGuy]

So... are you talking communism or are you aware of why universal income would be worse than benefits?

I am sorry but I am not sure what you highlighted have to do with what I said.

Employment especially higher paying vocations is driven by a degree of "likeness"
http://www.nationaljournal.com/next...re-twice-likely-be-unemployed-other-graduates
http://blogs.wsj.com/economics/2015...lls-below-10-still-twice-the-rate-for-whites/
http://www.nber.org/papers/w9873

 

[excelsiorlef]

Your confusing my reasoning here. 1 million dollars can disappear fast if you have it just look at many lottery winners; people are awful with dealing with money. I said they deserve a million dollars for the shit they put up with not that they will get it or it would even help.

Also I didn't suggest giving a person magically a degree you have to work for a degree because without the studying the degree doesn't mean shit. I also said everybody deserve to have access to free college (Tuition; I'm not sure if any country has free housing for college and food).

Also read my original statement it's essentially saying what your saying in that Blacks today are getting killed for wearing hoodies ; Fixing issues like that is most important not giving money out as I explained in my first paragraph here.

 

[Zornack]

That's like one thing you could find support for easily in polling data. Try again later?

Joke post?

 

[LegendofLex]

Yeah, like raising taxes.

Er, wait..

guys, this article isn't really about bernie sanders

it's about how the measures required to pay back some amount of damage that white supremacy has done to black people in our nation's history are so far beyond the pale that not even the furthest-left candidate running on completely unrealistic and revolutionary policies will stand up for them

this is coates basically saying to the black community "hey keep in mind that even among the groups claiming that they want to help, you still don't really matter to white america"

it's also an indictment of the democratic party's dogma of class and income inequality being the root of modern social evil, which helps poor white people far more than it does poor black people

I agree with you... except that the fact that Bernie Sanders's name is in the title means it is really about Bernie Sanders, regardless of the content or the intentions of the author.

 

[aeolist]

guys, this article isn't really about bernie sanders

it's about how the measures required to pay back some amount of damage that white supremacy has done to black people in our nation's history are so far beyond the pale that not even the furthest-left candidate running on completely unrealistic and revolutionary policies will stand up for them

this is coates basically saying to the black community "hey keep in mind that even among the groups claiming that they want to help, you still don't really matter to white america"

it's also an indictment of the democratic party's dogma of class and income inequality being the root of modern social evil, which helps poor white people far more than it does poor black people