Argumentation #5

   The idea of reparations for slavery has been debatable for centuries. Citizens of America today still debate whether there should be reparations for those descendants of slaves. Thomas Sowell is an Economist and Social Theorist who has consistently been against the idea of reparations, especially for descendants of slaves. In a 2012 interview, he stated his reason for his opposition to reparations. He has claimed that, “The people made worse off by slavery were those who were enslaved. Their descendants would have been worse off today if born in Africa instead of America. Put differently, the terrible fate of their ancestors benefited them. If those who were enslaved were alive, they would deserve huge reparations and their captors would deserve worse punishments than our laws allow. But death has put both beyond our reach. Frustrating as that may be, creating new injustices among the living will not change that.” Sowell's claim that the descendants of slaves have benefited from the fate of their ancestors and that the death of those ancestors has put the idea of reparation beyond our reach is not true.

    Descendants of slaves have not benefited from the fate of their ancestors. In fact, most are humiliated by it. Most of them do not consider their ancestor's fate to be beneficial. How are the death of your relatives beneficial? Descendants of slaves would feel humiliated because of the thought that they are the descendants. It's as if they were the successors of slaves. Although slavery has been considered abolished, the idea that remains is whether those descendants will receive reparations. The history of slaves still remains. Therefore, that history has been implemented within the modern day descendants. Due to racism, people still consider those African Americans as slaves. What benefits are there for them? Blacks are still segregated, considered inferior, and other unbeneficial effects.

    The death of those ancestors has not put the idea of reparations beyond our reach. It is not too late, there are still reparational actions that can be taken. Although it won't be as effective towards the descendants of slaves rather than the slaves who were actually affected with cruelity, it would at least be some effort to apologize. Rather than giving it to individuals, reparations can be given to the whole community instead. Thus, benefiting the whole black community. For example, if educational reparations were given to those descendants, African Americans in the United States would rise in efforts of knowledge. In addition, monetary reparations would be beneficial as well. It is a fact that compared to 73% of white households, 45% of blacks own their own home. Although it may be argued that the idea of reparations is too late since those affected slaves have passed away and it is too late to apologize, that is not entirely true. Yes, giving reparations to the descendants of slaves is not the same as actually giving them to those affected slaves. However, at least it is an effort from America to apologize rather than just doing nothing.

   Thomas Sowell has claimed that African American descents of enslavement have benefited from their ancestor's fate and due to the death of those ancestors, the idea of reparation is beyond our reach. This claim is not true. A majority of modern day African Americans are still fluctuated by the fate of their ancestors and the impact their deaths have caused upon them. The idea of reparations is still alive. Although the debate whether descendants of slaves should receive reparations or not is still active, these descendants are suffering from poverty and the harm that has been bestowed upon them. It isn't as harmful as the slaves from the past centuries, but there is still racism and segregation, 

   

Argumentation #4

Ethnic education was important and gradually increasing during the 19th century. This refers not only to African Americans, but other ethnic races as well. In addition, there were establishments of black colleges all over the nation. Henry Lyman Morehouse, ironically a white man, had developed the idea of the "Talented Tenth" in 1896, which soon became popularized by W.E.B Dubois. The concept of the "Talented Tenth" can be described as a plan to encourage and increase the ratio of African Americans with an education similar to the white men to a certain extent. The idea was to gather 10 African Americans, pick one with the superiority in knowledge and education, then to improve that one black man as he develops an education in higher level and to leave the other 9 African Americans to go through their suffering. Thus, that one black man would return to elevate his fellow black men as well. Morehouse has claimed that the top 10% of African Americans with higher education, whether in skills, culture, ethics, etc., are the future successes of their race in this country. Morehouse's claim is true however, the other 90% of African Americans should be provided with an education as well.

Morehouse's claim that the future success of the African American race in this country is dependent on the higher education of the top 10% of the African American population is true to some extent. It is true that as soon as there is a prominent leader, the rest will follow. Therefore, if there is 10% of the African American population with a superiority in education, the other 90% will have hope that those 10% will provide their fellow brothers with a necessary amount of education as well. Thus, the cycle continues and there will be a diversity of blacks with a higher education. The "Talented Tenth" at least gives hope towards the success and future of the race. The tenth man is said to have superior natural endowments, be symmetrically trained, and be highly developed, which those qualities will be bestowed upon the rest of the African Americans. It is said that the tenth man will become a mightier influence and inspiration towards the rest of the black race.

Although Morehouse's claim may be true, it is also refutable. The "Talented Tenth" plan seems as though it could be true however, what happens to the other 90% of the race? As the top 10% receive an education, what is to happen to the other African American population? To let them suffer with no other benefits as the 10% have? They should be given an education as well. It does not have to be as superior to the 10% but they should receive an education. There will be no success for the black race if they are left suffering with no knowledge in life. Focusing on a certain group or individual of the race will not help the entire race as a whole. In fact, how can it even be certain that the top 10% will even return to educate or pass on their wisdom to the others? There will always be people who think for themselves first rather than others. Not all of those educated black men are like this however, they do exist. Therefore, the majority of the African American population in this nation wouldn't entirely be educated.

In conclusion, Morehouse's claim that the future success of the African American race in this country is dependent on the higher education of the top 10% of the African American population may be true, but also false. As of today, there is no such system related that would benefit the race. In modern day, a majority of ethnicity are provided with education and encouraged to achieve a higher education. However, it was difficult back then due to the racial and segregation of races. To some extent, Morehouse's plan succeeded however, it would have greatly been effective if a majority of the race would be included as well.