Reparations is the notion that one group owes another for the wrongs imposed on them in the past by the more dominate group. From the beginning of history, man has been showing dominance over another. Race and ethnicity are major factors as to why this happens. History shows that different races have oppressed others in the name of superiority. They have to have control of the other group and impose their beliefs, which they believe are the only right ways of life. The Germans and Jews, Europeans and Asians, The Japanese and Chinese, to name a few, who history has noted for ethical conflicts.

Michael Hausfeld is one of the attorney’s on behalf of the class-action suit for reparations brought on by several plaintiffs against the United States government and companies who profited by slavery. “You cannot opinion these crimes in an ordinary sense, these are improbable circumstances” said the attorney Mr. Hausfeld (Like It Is, 2002). Mr. Hausfeld was one of the panelists on the ABC television news program “Like It Is” with Gill Noble as host. This was to point out that these were crimes against hundreds of thousands if not millions of people, and not just an individual. He states that International law states that there is not a statue of limitations in such a case of extraordinary crimes, which this is. Mr. Hausfeld suggest that the case for reparations is a long and continuing battle that first step must be to gather historical data in the case and that to fully lay out the entire case. That would take at least a year or two in Mr. Hausfelds’ opinion. There are about fifty law firms fervent with litigation in the case of reparations along with historians and activist being hired. The center of the research is Harvard Law School, according to Michael Hausfeld. A Professor Ogeltree is the head of the research team at Harvard.

“When you are dealing with the degradation, humiliation, lost wages, brutality, lack of liberty, then that becomes far more difficult to be able to find a person a hundred or so years after the fact who could be an identifiable heir to that victim. And so then you have to look at what is the sense of the law to with regard to what is dominate to that community who stand in a proper legal status to assert that right on behalf of the surviving community.” After this statement Mr. Noble asked Mr. Hausfeld about the issue of insurance taken out on slaves. This brings me to the AETNA case. In March AETNA the nations second largest insurance company was the subject of an on line periodical titled “The Reparation Movement Pursues Slavery’s Blue Chip Beneficiaries:. In the article the company admitted that it insured southern farmers against the death of their slaves (Mother Jones, July/August 2000). When approached the company only statement was “we express our deepest regret over any participation at all in this deplorable practice”. This was only after the company was asked to establish a multi-million dollar trust for minority education and businesses by Deidria Farmer-Paellmann a Unique York Lawyer. Ms. Paellmann was looking up her family tree when a book on murky genealogy Ms. Farmer-Paellmann was reading listed “AETNA as a source for finding your ancestors based on insurance policies.

Deidria Farmer-Paellmann is a law student who is also one of the considerable plaintiffs in a case before the United States. She was the focal point in the Mother Jones Article as well on the Television program “Like It Is”, on the ABC network. Ms. Farmer-Paellmann spoke of the Malcolm X interview with Alex Haley in which Malcolm spoke of land being promised to African Americans for the compensation of slavery (Like It Is, 20002). Forty Acres and a Mule was the promise.

Forty acres and a mule is a promise that slaves and their descendants have tried to garner repayment from the U.S. government for lost wages, pain, suffering, and freedom ever since the end of the civil war. Despite the promise the effort was never made by the government to make these promise good to the victims this according to the Daily News account by Geraldine Sealey (2002). Although this claim is over a century old opponents to this movement claim “an injury of this nature has no statute of limitations:. In the article a Mr. Olusegun states that the figure today would be much higher than 40 acres and a mule would cover(2002). Interest along with lost wages, pain, suffering and inflation would bring the figure into the trillions according to Mr. Olusegun.

Farmer-Paellmann’s argument is not with the United States government, but it is with the companies that profited from the slave trade (Like It Is, 2002). Not only AETNA but there is other key companies that profited from the slave trade. Companies that benefited from slavery rage from tobacco, railroad, textiles and coal. This has re-energized the modern movement. The Reparation Movement dates succor to the civil rights days and beyond. There are several companies that profited from slaves and it seems that recovering compensation from them would be more possible than to get compensation from the government.

The case against reparations is a long and continuing battle that some belief will never end. Adolph L. Jr. Reed’s article “The Case Against Reparations”, states that reparations to Black Americans for slavery and it’s legacy have been around for some time (2002, April 7). This notion came to the publics attention in 1969, when James Forman, the former chairman of the student non-violent coordination committee (SNCC), held a protest at New York’s Liberal Riverside Church and presented a “Black Manifest”, that demanded among other things $500 million in reparations to Black Americans from White churches and Synagogues. Years later, in 1972 Jesse Jackson’s Operation PUSH and the National Economics Association. A black economists’ group attempted to reintroduce it around the presidential election in conjunction with a demand for a 900 million dollar freedom budget. For two decades nothing became of the demands for reparations for the slave era in the United States, the sentiment circulated mainly within politically marginal, nationalist circles. The movement did not gain much traction even among other prominent African American activist and politicians.

Sash Talcott reported in the Daily Northwestern article that four panelists-African American studies Professor Martha Biondi, Chicago Ald, Dorothy Tillman, journalist Salim Muwakkie and attorney Lewis Myers Jr. The group made their case before a predominantly shadowy student audience in McCormick Auditorium, Ill. (2001, April 20). After decades of regarding the reparations movement as extremist, Americas Dark middle class has offered support for the movement”, said the panel. They also view to file a class action lawsuit using international human rights laws. This will be before federal court or the United Nations. These proponents have the opinion that the case is the same as Holocaust survivors who receive money as well as other groups who received reparations. During the last ten years or so, the issue has gained the attention of the masses. This id due in section to the successful pursuit of compensation for Japanese Americans, who were interned by the U.S. government during World War II.

“Most of us don’t have any hard feelings for the Japanese people”, said Edward Jackfert (2000). He was a prisoner of war and enslaved by Japan. His words were “they could apologize. They could give us compensation”. That seems to be the general sentiment of those wanting reparations for past injustices. Thirty six thousand Americans were enslaved and ten thousand died. Efforts at litigation and legislation have been muted at best. Dozens of lawsuits have been filed in the united States seeking compensation from Japanese firms. Many were filed in California, where the deadline for filing was pushed back to 2010, and most were consolidated as a federal case. But U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker dismissed the consolidated case in September 2000. He sided with the Japanese governments position that the 1951 peace treaty “once and for all” settled the issue of reparations.

Now reparations are not a movement for the atonement of the sins against Blacks. It has been the announce of the Holocaust and the Nazi slave labor by the Nazi’s in World War I. CNN had an article titled “Greek Nazi reparations sale halted” in which they stated that they have since been compensated (2001). A president for reparations has been space when just this summer, a $6 million Holocaust slave labor settlement was approved, funded jointly by the German government and a consortium of German and U.S. corporations. The European governments and companies had been advised to decide fast because the Holocaust was a unique event in history. They soon found that the door had been opened for other litigation such as the “Herero People’s Reparations Corporation”. The New York Times reporter Henri Cauvin wrote, that they have filed a suit against three German companies alleging that they were responsible for the “enslavement and genocidal destruction” of the Herero tribe in early 20th century, when Germany colonized Namibia (2001). I might add that the only scheme a hasten of people can ever prevail over this situation is to have a strong political base: noteworthy government ties with this and or another country. For without the necessary power structure to back the movement of reparations a nation or race of people will fall on deaf ears. This is the underlining issue that is never been mentioned in any of the articles I’ve read.

The jabber of Black America was propelled into the spotlight when Randal Robinson, the president of Trans Africa and author of “What America owes to Blacks (e.P. Dutton, 2000), played a central role in the U.S. movement against apartheid in South Africa. With affirmative action eroding fast, the idea is that reparations could be a larger compensatory policy for the expedient of the whole race and not to a few capture elite (TransAfrican Forum). Some feel like Robinson feels, that the elite in this country would rather give symbolic gestures to material ones. They would give college tuition and affordable housing or just a heartfelt apology. Psychological components of notion would be that the consciousness of the Black people would be lifted up and then racial pride would be restored. A sentiment often debated among supporters of the issue. Among some, the ragged “damage thesis”, which was criticized by historian Daryl Michael Scott in his book “Contempt and pity: Social Policy and the Image of the Damaged Black psyche, 1880-1996 (university of North Carolina, 1997). According to this thesis, slavery and its aftermath left Black Americans without cultural mooring and therefore especially vulnerable to various social pathologies. This conception has been the foundation of academic and journalistic slander of Black bad and working class people. This nation has been embedded in the myths and false notion about Black Americans for to long. Danial Patrick Moynihan in his inflammatory 1965 report, “The Negro Family” a case for National Action”, and its underlining contemporary notions of a self-destructive Gloomy Urban underclass is an example of the American view of Blacks in America (CNN, 2000).

CNN reported that the Greek Nazi reparation movement settlement has been staled by an appeal that Germany won, in the sale of Germany’s cultural center, the Goethe Institute. The sale was to take place on September 19, Ioannis Stamoulis is a lawyer who represented the relatives of 214 executed civilians (2001). he won the case against Germany and is inspiring the decision to the Greek Supreme Court. As we can spy there are many reparation movements underway around the world like the civil rights movement of the past, nations are using others to demonstrate the way for social change.

Africa calls for an apology for slavery in Durban South Africa. African leaders have called on the U.S. and Europe to apologize for their part in the colonial slave trade, but are divided on whether to insist on reparations. A string of leaders told the world Conference Against Racism that western powers should say “sorry for 400 years of slavery according to a CNN report (2001). Cuba’s President Fidel Castro said that the U.S. has an “unavoidable moral duty” to pay reparations to both American Indians and African countries. I’d like to mention that during the United Nation conferences the U.S. lobbied successfully to get the reparations roar off the floor for discussion, but many African leaders and African American organizations fought to net the issue back on the floor. This included a mention in the final conferences declaration. As you can see by this example, political power as well as economical power is key to gaining momentum.

The African Reparation Movement’s (ARM) aim is to spend the law to gain reparations for slavery and colonization of African people (2002). They also aim to recover African artifacts from whichever place they are currently. They also what ” an apology from western governments. The objective of the movement is to restore the dignity of the African people in Africa and abroad. Self respect and the restoration of the African culture with its languages and civilizations accordingly portrayed in history. Reparations in it self has gained momentum due to the media and the spread of knowledge about past travesties in history.

The International News, reported from a historical perspective arguments for reparations for African Americans (unknown). The argument is the fact that 500 years ago or so Africans worked and died in this country. There labor was taken for free without compensation and generations of White descendants still help from the wealth accumulated over the years. African American business also suffered due to raids on Black owned businesses by Whites. An example of this is the Oklahoma community that was called “Black wall street”. It was said that more wealth was in this community than in any other area Dusky or White. Not only were African Americans held from owning businesses, but also gaining employment due to discriminatory practices at the time in American History. Discrimination practices in public schools, purchasing of homes, and cars. The Accumulation of lost wages, income and the overall financial future of generations of African descendants are in question.

The issue is, who would pay? This is a major boom in this debate over reparations. Who would get the money, is also an enlighten? What kind of suit is going to be filed? The lawsuit itself is a class action suit, said Roger Wareham (Like It Is, 2002).

Thirty five million descendents who for-bearers were enslaved Africans. It targets pacific companies and the benefits would include members of the class. A class action suit is plaintiffs that represent certain characteristics that apply to them but not only to them, but to those in the same situation that have the declare in common. The idea is not to have 35 cramped suits but bring them together. By trial, they want a jury trial, if it comes to that point. The case was compared to the Brown vs. The Board of Education in that it was a class action case to benefit all people and not just the Brown family. The pacifies of the case has four areas that said companies benefited from the conspiracy, said attorney Roger Wareham.

1. THE STOLEN LABOR OF SAID PEOPLE

2. CONVERSION

3. UNJUST ENRICHMENT

4. HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATION

There are many reasons for reparations but there are also opponents of the movement, who believe that the issue of reparations is not a good idea. One argument is that no single group is responsible for slavery (Horowitz, 2001). All over the world many nations had a share in the slave trade some would say. Others have similar arguments against reparations.

David Horowitz is a man dead status against reparations. He attempted to place an anti-reparations advertisement in college newspapers nationwide. This attempt of his, area off debate on the pronounce of free speech and racial sensitivity (Daily Northwestern, 2001). Mr Horowitz’s ten reasons why is a list of his ideas that seem one sided, and limited in his knowledge of history and American policy. His first claim is that there is no single group clearly responsible for the crime of slavery (Horowitz, 2001). This may be fair but there are those businesses and groups that clearly benefited from the slave trade. When I mention a group that benefited I mean countries like America and the colonized Islands, who used African labor to build their countries. Companies to this day are growing in capital, due to slave labor. The second reason given is “There is no group that benefited exclusively from it’s fruits”. This is much the same as his first reason, adding that Blacks became wealthy through the use of slaves as well. My argument is how many kept that wealth and at what cost to themselves. Many helped to save themselves from slavery, and some kept slaves to save their own. The basic human instinct of self-preservation has a lot to do with those who helped, along with greed. This is not an excuse, some did benefit, but the number is not large. Mr. Horowitz’s other eight reasons are:

1. Only a tiny minority of White Americans ever owned slaves, and others gave their lives to free them.

2. America today is a multi-ethnic nation and most Americans have no connection (direct or indirect) to slavery.

3. The historical precedents used to justify the reparations claim do not apply, and the claim itself is based on race not injury.

4. The reparations argument is based on the unfounded claim that all African American descendants of slaves suffer from the economic consequences of slavery and discrimination.

5. The reparations claim is one more attempt to turn African Americans into victims. It sends a damaging message to the African American community.

6. Reparations to African Americans have already been paid. This he said was in welfare benefits, civil rights acts, and racial preferences.

7. What about the debt Blacks owe to America. This he claims is for being free.

8. The reparations claim is a separatist idea that sets African Americans against the nation that gave them freedom.

This doesn’t note the fact that African American labor beget this country, and that much of what we have today is do to that free labor. David Horowitz is editor-in-chief of Front Page Magazine. com and president of the Center for the Study of Popular Culture.

Who would pay? He doesn’t want to hear that the government would pay. because that would be taking money from taxpayers (Williams, 2001). Deidria Farmer-Paellmann has the idea that the companies that are involved should have funds available to Dark owned businesses and the education of Black youths (Like It Is, 2002). The debate continues and views vary. The quest still remains, should African Americans receive reparations for slavery?

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

WORK CITED

Anonymous. (2001, September). Africa calls for slavery apology. CNN New York Bureau. Retrieved April 7, 2002 from http://cnn.www.com

Anonymous. (2001, September). Greek Nazi reparations sale halted. CNN Modern York Bureau. Retrieved April 7, 2002 from http://www.cnn.com

Anonymous. (2002). Reparations for African Americans…forging ahead with a new movement-a historical perspective. African History, Culture, International News. Retrieved April 30, 2002 from http://www.frontpagemag.com/horowitznotepad/2001/hno0-03-01.htm

A.R.M. 92002. About the African reparations movement. On line web site Retrieved April 30, 2002 from http://www.arm.arc.co-uk/about.html.com

Cauvin. H. 92001, September7). Africa: Namibia a century later tribe sues. New York Times. Retrieved April 15, 2002 from http://www.findarticles.com

Dutton, E.P. (2000). A case for Black reparations-transcript conference that was taped.

Horowitz, D. (2001). Ten reasons why reparations for Blacks is a unpleasant idea for Blacks-and racist too. David Horowitz’s notepad. Retrieved April 30, 2002 from http://www.frontpagemag.com/horowitznotepad/2001/hn01-03-01.htm

Jackfert, E. (2000, June 28). Pow victims of Japanese slave labor testifies before senate judiciary committee. PR Newswire. Retrieved April 30, 2002

Jones, M. (2000, July August). The reparations movement pursues slavery’s blue-chip beneficiaries. Peculiar Profits. Retrieved April 30, 2002 from http://www.coh.Arizona.edu/ass/AFAS-website1profits.htm

Moynihan, D.P. (1965). The Negro Family: a case for national action. CNN New York Retrieved April 7, 2002 from http://www.cnn.com

Reed, A.l. Jr. (2000, December0. The case against reparations. The Progressive. Retrieved April 7, 2002 from http://www.cnn.com

Scott, D.M. (Eds). (1997). Contempt: social policy and the image of the damaged Black psyche. University of North Carolina

Sealey, G. (2001, June 15). Atoning for slavery. ABC Daily news. Retrieved April 30, 2002 from http://abcnews.go.com

Steffen, S. (2001, June 19). First payments sent to holocaust slave laborers. CNN New York Bureau. Retrieved April 7, 2002 from http://www.cnn.com

Talcott, S. (2001, April 20). Panel of local activists makes case for slavery reparations. The Daily North Western. Retrieved April 20, 2002. from http://www.dailynorthwestern.com

Williams, W. (2001. Reparations for slavery arguments are loaded with contradictions. Capitalism magazine. Retrieved April 30, 2002 from http://www.capitalismmagazine.com/2001/february/ww-reparations-slavery-false.htm