To repair the deep-seated racial disparities between white Americans and black Americans, reparations must be implemented.

While this conversation may be uncomfortable for some, I personally recognize the necessity of addressing this issue. Through my own experiences and witnessing the finan- cial struggles faced by my family and friends, juxtaposed with the relative prosperity
of my white peers, I have come to realize that these disparities could have been prevented. The systematic and financial inequalities that black Americans continue to endure are
a direct result of slavery, Jim Crow laws, and other historical injustices. Reparations are the only means through which black Americans can hope to catch up and achieve true equality.

The so-called “American Dream”, which promises that hard work and determination will lead to success, has proven to be a fallacy for black Americans who were denied equal opportunities from the very beginning. The average white family possesses ten times the wealth of the average black family, and white college graduates have seven times more wealth than their black counterparts. Reparations should be multifaceted, encompassing more than mere symbolic gestures such as placing a black person on currency or erecting statues. True reparations necessitate comprehensive systemic changes.

In 1860, the labor of black Americans was valued at over 3 billion dollars, and the cotton produced by enslaved blacks in 1861 amounted to 260 million dollars. The United States has yet to compensate black Americans for these immense contributions. Slavery, Jim Crow segregation, redlining, and discriminatory public policies in education and criminal justice have all significantly impeded black Americans from building wealth. The racial wealth gap cannot be bridged by individual efforts alone; it requires a sys- temic overhaul. The financial and social consequences of racial wealth disparities are far-reaching, impacting health, education, and economic outcomes. Wealth provides a safety net during economic crises and enables individuals to withstand financial shocks throughout their lives. Recessions and disasters, such as the 2008 housing crisis and the recent COVID-19 pandemic, have laid bare the unequal distribution of wealth, leaving black Americans more vulnerable to negative consequences due to disparities in health- care access and economic policies. The American Dream, rooted in the idea of equal op- portunity and the pursuit of happiness, has been repeatedly undermined by the U.S. gov- ernment’s actions, which systematically denied wealth-building opportunities to black Americans.

This reality is exemplified by the fact that the average white family possesses ten times the wealth of the average black family, and white college graduates hold over seven times more wealth than their black counterparts. Achieving an equitable American Dream necessitates reparations that restore the deferred wealth to the descendants of black Americans and effectively close the racial wealth divide. Reparations should include individual cash payments and opportunities for wealth building in education, housing, and business ownership to address racial disparities. Slavery enriched white slave own- ers and their descendants, while suppressing wealth accumulation for the enslaved. It is crucial for the United States to compensate the descendants of enslaved black Americans for their labor and to atone for the lost equity resulting from anti-black policies in housing, transportation, and business. he racial wealth divide is not a consequence of in- dividual behavior or a lack of effort on the part of black Americans, but rather a result of systemic barriers and a lack of financial capital.

Wealth is intrinsically linked to better health, education, and economic outcomes, and serves as a safety net during economic downturns. The United States government has provid- ed reparations to other groups, such as Native Americans and Japanese Americans, for past injustices. It is time for the government to take responsibility for the state-sanctioned racial discrimination that black Americans have endured and provide reparations to recti- fy these historic wrongs.

The United States has had numerous opportunities to atone for slavery, from the Civil War era to the New Deal policies of the 1930s, but each time it fell short. The government’s failure to deliver on promises of land, education, and financial support has perpetuated racial wealth disparities and hindered the American Dream for black Americans. Policies such as the G.I. Bill and Social Security disproportionately excluded black Americans, pre- venting them from accessing wealth-building opportunities. Furthermore, discriminatory practices like redlining and anti-black housing policies further restricted black Amer- icans’ ability to accumulate wealth. These injustices need to be acknowledged, and repara- tions should be offered to those who can trace their ancestry back to enslaved individuals in America. Large corporations that benefited from slavery should also contribute to repa- rations.

Reparations are not only economically and socially justifiable but also morally im- perative. The United States had ample opportunities to rectify the consequences of slavery and systemic discrimination, yet it has continuously failed to take significant action. The legacy of slavery was particularly brutal, with enslaved Africans enduring harrowing con- ditions and their families being torn apart. The case for reparations encompasses econom- ic, social, and moral arguments. It is time for the United States to seize the opportunity to right these historic wrongs and fulfill its promise of equal opportunity for all. In conclu- sion, reparations are an essential step toward achieving racial justice and equality. The systemic and financial disparities endured by black Americans, resulting from centuries of slavery, Jim Crow laws, and discriminatory policies, can only be remedied through rep- arations. The American Dream has proven elusive for black Americans, with white families holding exponentially more wealth and greater access to opportunities. Reparations must go beyond token gestures and symbolic changes; they require a comprehensive restructuring of systemic inequalities.

The United States has a moral obligation to compensate black Americans for their contribu- tions, labor, and the injustices they have faced. It is time to bridge the racial wealth gap and create a society where true equality and opportunity can flourish.

– Niani Maulana

Sources used:
William, Sandy “Why We Need Reparations for Black Americans.” Brookings EDU, 27 June 2023