Reparations, according to New Webster's Dictionary, is an amends for a wrong doing or for causing an injury. Presently many African-Americans, who are descendents of African slaves, are asking for reparations from the United States government. Basically they want money from the United States for the time that their decedents spent in slavery. The majority of people who want reparations are obviously African-Americans. Obviously this group is going to be for reparations because they are the ones reaping the benefits. The African Reparation Movement (ARM) claims that African Americans want six things out of reparations. Money, all African artifacts, recognition in history, education of youth and a formal apology are just a few of their demands. Another group that surprisingly wants reparations is the group of people who have descendents whom fought for the Union Army. These peoples feel that both descendents of slaves and descendents of union soldiers should receive money because union soldiers fought to free slaves. Other people do not think that reparations are necessary. Most of the people with this view feel that present-day African Americans did not struggle through slavery so they should not be paid. These people feel that what is done is done and can not be paid for 100-150 years down the road. .
My views on reparation are basically that the past is in the past. Not many African-Americans can say that they struggled like there descendents before them. Although, sadly, African- Americans still don't have the same respect as other races in the US, African-Americans today to not have nearly as many struggles as slaves did. Reparations are meant to make up for pain and suffering. Why then should African-Americans receive money for struggles they have never faced? It seems to me that the money aspects of the reparation is just greed. Can money replace freedom? Can wealth change what has happened in the past? The answer to these questions is no, which is why I believe present day African Americans should not receive money for their ancestor's struggles.
