America’s Unpaid Debt: The Case for Reparations to Black Descendants of Slavery

The injustices committed against African Americans, beginning with slavery, are undeniable. Millions continue to suffer from the aftereffects of those injustices, with a substantial amount of poverty among Black Americans traceable to discriminatory government policies.¹

As the nation undergoes a racial reckoning, it’s time to confront the unpleasant aspects of the past and consider what, if anything, is owed to the descendants of enslaved people.

Reparations advocates argue that the United States owes a debt to Black Americans for the unpaid labor of their enslaved ancestors, which was vital to the accumulation of American wealth.

They assert that this debt remains unpaid and compounds like interest, disadvantaging African Americans in everything from education to homeownership.² The question is, who should pay this debt, and how?

The Growing Reparations Movement

The current U.S. reparations movement is gaining momentum, with several cities and states taking steps toward compensation for Black residents.^(ref) 

In March 2021, Evanston, Illinois, became the first city to begin distributing reparations to Black Americans, and California’s Reparations Task Force recently submitted its final report and recommendations to the governor.

Reparations advocates like the National African American Reparations Commission (NAARC) argue that reparations are an investment in America, not a debt. They point to studies showing that engaging in reparations could add trillions to the U.S. economy. 

However, opposition remains strong, with nearly 70% of U.S. adults surveyed last year saying they would not support reparations for descendants of enslaved people.(ref) 

Precedents for Reparations

Reparations for historical injustices are not unprecedented internationally and within the United States. Germany paid compensation to Jewish survivors of the Holocaust through the Luxembourg Agreements and legislation known as Wiedergutmachung. 

The U.S. government has also provided restitution to Native Americans for land seizures and to Japanese Americans for unjust incarceration during World War II.(ref) 

African Americans are the only group that has not received reparations for state-sanctioned racial discrimination. There have been some smaller-scale examples, such as the Obama administration’s $1.25 billion settlement for discrimination against Black farmers and Chicago’s $5.5 million reparations package for police torture survivors. 

However, no comprehensive federal reparations program has been implemented.

Calculating the Debt

Estimating the amount owed to Black Americans for centuries of slavery and discrimination is a complex undertaking. Some economists have placed the value of enslaved people’s unpaid labor, in today’s dollars, at $42 trillion. 

Others have calculated the racial wealth gap, with white families having a median wealth nearly 10 times greater than Black families.

Reparations proposals vary in their scope and methods. Some advocate for direct payments to descendants of enslaved people, while others focus on collective investments in education, housing, and business ownership for Black communities. 

The Harriet Tubman Community Investment Act, recently considered in Maryland, aims to address barriers in these areas as a form of atonement.

The Path Forward

The road to reparations for Black Americans is an uphill battle, but the conversation is gaining traction. Supporters argue there is a strong moral case for redressing the harms of slavery and its legacy. 

They see reparations as a means of closing the racial wealth gap and fulfilling America’s promise of equal opportunity.

Critics raise questions about the feasibility and fairness of reparations, arguing that it is difficult to determine who should pay and who should receive compensation for historical wrongs. Some worry that reparations could be divisive and counterproductive.

Ultimately, the path forward will require grappling with these challenging questions and building political will to address America’s unpaid debt.

Sources:

1. California State Senate
2. FREOPP