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,