Talk About Reparations

The Talk about Reparations

The talk of reparations has come back to life. Several Democratic presidential candidates have expressed support of the idea. Reparation means making financial amends to African-Americans for centuries of slavery, racism, and equality. In an interview with Wolf Blitzer and Bernie Sanders, the journalist Blitzer asked Presidential Candidate Sanders what he thinks about reparations. Sanders answered the question with his own question: “What does that mean? What do they mean? I'm not sure that everyone's clear.”

Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren, former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julian Castro, New Jersey Senator Cory Booker, California Senator Kamala Harris, and author Marianne Williamson are in favor of reparations.Senator Warren has been reported to suggest that Native Americans should be part of the conversation as well. Senator Harris has said during an interview that African-Americans have had 200 years of slavery, and had Jim Crow for almost a century. Also legalized discrimination, segregation.

Hillside American History teacher Brendan Kenny says it is a social issue. “I don’t think it’s right if it was used for punishment, that's not cool.” Kenny says it's a complicated issue. Kenny says if there's proof that a family got rich because of profits from slavery, then the family affected should get reparations.

American History teacher James Finnigan also supports reparations. “It was never addressed.” When asked should Native Americans should get reparations, he said yes. “America was built on stolen land and stolen labor.”

In a random survey of students walking by, this reporter learned that many students are not aware of what reparations are.