The Logistics of Reparations

[The Architect Of Fate]

Sigh let's go over this 

I will not entertain any debate of whether or not reparations for slavery should be paid - but simply want to figure out the logistics.

Okay 

Who gets how much - and who pays it?

It doesn't have to be monetary as many reprocanist want government investment in fixing the legacy of slavery and Jim Crow that has left Blacks behind and continues to harm their future  

Would this have been done 140 years ago - it would be very simple  (and just) - if you were a slave you get paid X dollars for however many years you were a slave.

It doesn't have to be monetary 

No problem.

Okay

However - now - there isn't anyone who was a slave during that period. (of course there's slaves now -but nobody seems to give much of a shit about that)

It's not about if anyone is currently a slave it's about how slavery and subsequent issues of racism have left black behind 

So who gets paid now - and how much?

It doesn't have to be monetary 

You can't simply say - "my ancestor was a slave". 

And then my ancestors faced generations as second class citizens and then there children faced the effects of both  

That isn't a data point. "My great great great grandfather (provide name) was a slave (provide years) - and we have one data point. Unfortunately - the slave owners took advantage of the female slaves and a fair number of them sired offspring. So if your great great great grandfather was a slave -- and another great great great grandfather was a slave owner - doesn't the one cancel the other out??? After all - we shouldn't be paying the owners of slaves a damned cent.

No it doesn't as most of the time the children of slave masters were not free men nor even if they were raping your grandmother is hardly compensation . 

And - what if you have 1 great great great grandfather who was a slave - and a great great great grandfather who was a freeman --- they did exist. Do you get a half share?

Jim crow affect free blacks 

Then there's the problem of who foots the bill.

The government that was ultimately responsible for allowing slavery to be legal and wrote and maintained racist laws 

Again -- 140 years ago - it would be easy. The slave owners are the guilty bunch. They should have paid. It doesn't seem right to make abolitionists who risked everything to help free the enslaved.

Again the government 

It just seems it will be a hugely complicated task to figure out who is owed what - and distribute it equitably. What will be considered legal evidence of heredity and who decides what is a fair share?

It doesn't have to be monetary 

The only simple way - is to show up -have somebody take a look at you and say "Yup. You look like a black guy - here's your money."

It doesn't have to be monetary and non monetary proposals would focus on fixing the disadvantages blacks still face due to history 

And who pays?

The government 

White people only? Are native Americans exempt? How about Asians? Latinos?

The government 

What about white people who's ancestors immigrated after slavery was made illegal? They didn't have anything to do with it. Why should they pay?

The government 

Because they're white????

The government 

Isn't that kinda racist?

The government isn't a race