11. 40 Acres, A Mule, & Reparations

In this episode Black History Educator Brittany Wilkins discusses the city of Evanston, Illinois plan for reparations along with HR-40 legislation to study slavery reparations for African Americans.  Podcast summarizes and analyzes the thoughts and opinions on the perspective of how reparations should be distributed, the plan for reparations, the criteria to be eligible for reparations, and the plea to America to end systemic injustices against African Americans. 

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Transcript

Dear, America

Run me my 40 acres and a mule.

Run me my reparations for 400 plus years of slavery taking my ancestors from their native land

Run me my reparations for colonizing and under-developing  Africa

Run me my reparations for the brutalizations and victimization inflicted upon my brothers and sisters

Run me my reparations for the unpaid wages and hard labor in building America

Run me my reparations for those countless hours my ancestors picked cotton in those fields

Run me my reparations for the racial injustice 

Run me my reparations to cope with Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome

Run me my reparations for stripping my people of their identity, so they never seek to discover there true history . 

Run me my reparations for some of my people hate the skin they are in, 

Run me my reparations so that I may buy my 40 acres and a mule that you promised me but failed to deliver

The magnitude of the racial terror  black people have experienced in this country cannot be quantified. Yet many people believe this country owes us reparations. Have we earned the right to reparations ? Do the receipts of bigotry, hate, and discrimination imply we are long overdue for a refund?

1. Reparations Defined

But what is reparations? 

Reparations is defined as the making of amends for a wrong one has done, by paying money to or otherwise helping those who have been wronged.

1. Context of Reparations 

Recently I read an article published by NBC news on how Evanston, Illinois will be the 1st U.S city to issue slavery reparations. In just reading the headline alone a few questions came to mind.

1. How many black residents in Evanston, Illinois?
2. How much money will black residents be awarded?
3. How did city leaders and officials come to terms and agreements how much to payout and what data was used to justify reparations.

After reading the article, I’d had learned reparations is not a direct payment of funds to residents. The city of Evanston  developed Restorative Housing Program.  This Program acknowledges the harm caused to African Americans  residents due to discriminatory housing policies and practices on part of the city  from 1919-1969. The first phase of the program is giving sixteen residents $25,000 each for home repairs or property costs. How it started was in 2002 when the city council supported the US House Resolution 40 calling for federal to study slavery and make recommendations for reparations with the adoption of Resolution 43-R-02 Slave reparations. In November 2019, the Evanston City Council adopted Resolution 126-R-19, Establishing the City of Evanston Reparations Fund and the Reparations sub-committee.  This resolution committed the first ten million dollars to fund local reparations for housing and economic development for Black residents.  The history and work committed to this initiative has brought us here to see this milestone. 

While many applaud the efforts of this programs, many are saying it is not enough. In an article published by nbc news by Char Adams,  Author and scholar in residence at American University Andre Perry was quoted as saying “I certainly would like for money to go directly in the hands of individuals, but he does not believe an initiative like this should be prevented from starting. He believes those who qualify should be able to spend as they would like.  Alderman Cicely Fleming called the resolution a housing plan dressed up as reparations. True reparations should be dictated by the people rather than city leaders. Critics have even noted that simply funding does not adequately address systemic racism that makes it difficult for black people to build wealth through the practice. Mrs. Fleming voted against the plan. As she stated she supports reparations but really emphasized how blacks should dictate the terms of how their grievances should be repaired. The point she made was that this program assumes black people cant manage their own money.

Interestingly enough the House Committee approves bill to study slavery reparations for the first time. The Legislation, HR 40 would create a commission to study slavery reparations for Black Americans. The legislation would be comprised of thirteen people who would study the lasting effects of slavery and racial discrimination throughout the country’s history. The panel would submit its findings to Congress and recommend any remedies including compensation to Black Americans. Since 1989 reparations legislation has been introduced in every session of Congress. This is the furthest it has gone through Congress. Progress is a process. This is a symbolic achievement. Many believe this legislation will not pass. I wonder if it does pass who will be the thirteen members on this reparations committee and what era of history where they will begin their study. It’s taken thirty two years to reach this milestone. How long will it take the committee to do the research and submit its findings. 

Based off the definition of reparations, the debate is centered around the compensation African Americans should be paid.

1. Equity over Reparations 
   1. Do reparations have to be financial? According to USA Today, an analysis conducted by Mullen and Darity in distributing  reparations it  could lead to the elimination of the black-white wealth gap within ten years. Ariel & Swcab Black investor survey shows black Americans continue to trial white counterparts in building wealth in the areas of saving and investing. It has been reported that black Americans save $393 overall per month while whites save 76% more at 693 per month. The data supports the wealth gap disparities. I am not convinced reparations will eliminate the wealth gap. 
      1. One have you noticed every time the African-American race takes two steps forward, we are set back by the system due to legislation and policy changes that make it harder for us. For instance how Georgia governor  signed SB202 changing the states election code to prevent a repeat of what occurred this past election.  This new legislation intentionally erects barriers to the rights of African Americans and persons of color their fundamental rights to vote. Just imagine when our race begins to build wealth in this country and how it would impact the economy. While many of us will obtain and inherit wealth in this country the gap will always be there. The system will continue to propose new legislation and move the needle creating more red tape prohibiting us from living their 
      2. American dream. What does it profit a man to gain the world and still be treated as an abject degraded human being. As rapped by lyricist  Kanye West
      3. It seem we living the American dream but the people highest up got the lowest self-esteem. The prettiest people do the ugliest things. For the road to riches and diamond rings. We shine because they hate hate us, floss cause they degrade us. We tryna buy back our 40 acres. And for that paper look how low we’ll stoop. Even if you in a Benz you still a nigga in coupe. Are we viewed any differently
      4. Many believe reparations will right the wrongs of this country. Reparations are a past debt owed  of what occurred many centuries ago. What about now? Will reparations stop police brutality ?  Will it  stop Karens of  the world from calling the police? Will stop so called noisy neighbor aka the neighborhood watch person from following their black neighbors home? Will stop gentrification? 
      5. I pray for better days for the black race. If we are being real and assess our plight in America reparations will not solve our problems. We cannot buy our way out of systemic racism.

1. Plan for Reparations

I’ve spoken with several people on the topic of reparations, going back and forth not why we need reparations but what is our plan for reparations. In a consumer driven society will be spend our reparations on buying Birkan bags, private jets to islands, and beach front homes giving it all right back as I’ve seen evidence of with release of stimulus checks and misuse of funds of paycheck protection program. I don’t place all African Americans in the category of not being good money managers, but those examples of African Americans blowing money could work against us. I wonder  will we invest  wisely in black owned businesses, clean up our ghettos, and collaborate to build community programs, build historical landmarks to our ancestors, preserve historical landmarks, buildings, museums, and churches with strong African heritage roots.   If tomorrow they were giving out 40 acres of land for free, but  you had to give a presentation on what the 40 acres would be used and how it would benefit the community. Would you be prepared?  Wanting it isn’t enough. What is the cost benefit analysis to the investor  . What benefit or return of investment will America gain by distributing 12 trillion dollars in reparations?

Could it be America is and has already paid us reparations, in the form of the welfare system and all these over free government assistance programs. Or much like the housing program established in Evanston, Illinois. 

Before the pandemic African Americans were not saving money, acquiring knowledge in financial literacy, and investing. If we are not doing those things now, what makes us think we will begin to do those things if reparations are given to us to build wealth in America. 

1. Criteria for Reparations

As I was reading HR 40,  it had me thinking how is this committee going to establish the criteria on the number of African Americans who are eligible for reparations. You may say all black people should receive reparations.  The defense or those opposed to reparations may argue that Slavery didn’t begin with the enslavement of Africans. Selling and buying of human beings was not unknown in African society. African people enslaved Africans.There was enslavement through famine,insolvency, and crimes. Insolvency is the inability to pay ones debt. Men gave daughters in marriage or sons for laborers in exchange for corn or millet to save families from starvation. This study of reparations might unveil some hard but honest truths about how Africans sold out their own to the colonizers to protect themselves.  If one was sold as opposed to just being taken how will reparations be resolved.  Consider the long term emotional and psychological effects that can have on someone. If some people African Americans are paid reparations and others are not, it will further divide our race. 

Outro

I found it interesting but not surprise that those who have spoken with me about reparations  know nothing about their history.  

We speak as if we know what our ancestors wanted. As they sailed on their voyage to a foreign land not knowing what future awaited them did they say you know I want reparations? As they sang those hymns picking cotton on America’s plantations were they singing about reparations? On their knees as they prayed to their God, were they praying for reparations. Those chains stripped them of their dignity and identity. No longer the child, woman,or man God destined them to become, but a slave becoming  the most degraded, wretched, and abject  set of beings that ever lived since the world began.

I do not know the time nor the generation when you will pay my people their reparations. 

While we pray and wait for you to  repent of your sins

Let us work collaboratively not to unchanged the history of the past, but to build equity in our schools, communities, and corporate America. 

Can you see us for who we really are, and not what you want us to be. 

Our ancestors have built this country,  that’s got to be worth something.  Are we asking for to much?

If you cannot grant us our 40 acres, a mule, and reparations

Can you at least keep your knee off our necks. 

Please America let us breathe

Sincerely,

Your mis-educated negro