The sad truth of the matter is that 156 years after the Emancipation Proclamation, Black Americans are still not free. We are not free to walk the streets, drive a car, shop, worship, go swimming, barbecue in a park, or just live without the possibility of being stopped by the police, questioned security, or just harassed by anyone who believes that we don't have a right to be where we are. 'Living while Black,' changes the way we live. Many of us don't see the police as our friend. The criminal justice system isn't just. And having "The Talk" with our young people has as different meaning.
Recently there has been a lot of talk about reparations. Reparations are a making of amends for a loss. Reparations for slavery means that some sort of compensatory payment need to be made to the descendants of the African people trafficked here and enslaved. Before you think that this is a far fetched idea realize that the government has previously paid reparations regarding slavery. On April 16, 1862, President Lincoln signed the District of Columbia Compensated Emancipation Act. In it, 900 slaveholders in the District of Columbia were forced to free their slaves. The slaveholders received, from the government, about $300 for each slave they freed. Yes, the slaveholders got paid and slaves got nothing. With that precedent in mind why not compensate the ancestors of the enslaved Americans? Forty acres and a mule would be of little use to us today. But what could help today?
The rate of black home ownership has not significantly changed in the last 40 years despite the The Civil Rights act. There could be programs that banks and lending institutions could use to reverse the effects of redlining. A 'greenlining' program could make home loans more affordable for black people. Black people carry more debt and have less wealth than whites, regardless of education. Reducing student loan debt or offering free or low cost college and technical school education would help to level the playing field. Now you may believe that this is an unnecessary expense. America has a history of systemic racism toward the very people who built this nation and I daresay made America great, among other nations. Reparations could begin to heal the wounds of slavery that still exist today. Something to think about.
We will be celebrating Independence Day in a couple of weeks. As we gather with family and friends let's remember the whole story of freedom. Our story, the story of slavery and emancipation is a part of American history! Celebrate Juneteenth on the 4th!