I have not read the book, but I think the strongest argument against reparations is:
No one who receives reparations has ever been a slave, and no one who pays the reparation has ever owned a slave. That should end the discussion there.
Considering that the descendants of slaves living in the UK or US are doing an order of magnitude better (in terms of wealth and living conditions) than the ancestors of those who were left behind and never enslaved, how does one tabulate reparations in a way in which doesn’t lead to a negative number?
IOW, how much do African Americans owe non-blacks for the privilege of living here?
I am being facetious. But it does go to show how inane reparations are.
African Americans are benefiting from the privilege of living in the United States. Living in America is reparations. These are the points that people should make. Black Americans have a spending power of over 2 trillion because they live in America. Black Americans have never been net contributors to America.
"Reparations are not about justice but about delegitimising Western civilisation."
Absolutely so.
"The key event, he argues, was the death of George Floyd in 2020, which triggered a wave of Black Lives Matter protests that quickly spread to Britain."
The US is engaged in" reparations "on a daily basis with an average black American costing their economy $900k over a lifetime. While their largest POC- people of colour cohort- Hispanics cost 700k per capita.
With the Daily Mails agenda inspiring the McPherson report which made" institutional racism "accusations automatically accepted by society effectively bringing crt-critical race theory to the UK more than 25 years ago.
I have not read the book, but I think the strongest argument against reparations is:
No one who receives reparations has ever been a slave, and no one who pays the reparation has ever owned a slave. That should end the discussion there.
The descendants of slaves have done better in the West. So there should be no reparations
This fact - and it is a fact, as indicated by lifespan, quality of life and per capita income - should end the discussion immediately.
Excellent review Lipton , thank you.
Considering that the descendants of slaves living in the UK or US are doing an order of magnitude better (in terms of wealth and living conditions) than the ancestors of those who were left behind and never enslaved, how does one tabulate reparations in a way in which doesn’t lead to a negative number?
IOW, how much do African Americans owe non-blacks for the privilege of living here?
I am being facetious. But it does go to show how inane reparations are.
African Americans are benefiting from the privilege of living in the United States. Living in America is reparations. These are the points that people should make. Black Americans have a spending power of over 2 trillion because they live in America. Black Americans have never been net contributors to America.
I believe they have contributed tremendous value and gained tremendous benefits.
Great article, thanks.
"Reparations are not about justice but about delegitimising Western civilisation."
Absolutely so.
"The key event, he argues, was the death of George Floyd in 2020, which triggered a wave of Black Lives Matter protests that quickly spread to Britain."
They were riots, not protests.
Absolutely true but to this day has been legitimized by those who want to be recipients of free money.
The US is engaged in" reparations "on a daily basis with an average black American costing their economy $900k over a lifetime. While their largest POC- people of colour cohort- Hispanics cost 700k per capita.
With the Daily Mails agenda inspiring the McPherson report which made" institutional racism "accusations automatically accepted by society effectively bringing crt-critical race theory to the UK more than 25 years ago.
Sorry to see it's not coming out in paperback - I'd donate a copy to my public library. It should be shelved next to The 1619 Project.
Was indentured servitude really bondage? I thought it was a contractual obligation, voluntarily entered into.