What About Reparations for Slavery?

By Frosty Wooldridge

How do you explain “Slavery”?  Why would one human being or group of human beings turn other human beings into slaves?  What kind of morality allows one religion to pray to God, and then, turn around to enslave another group of people?  Where do ethics come into the picture?  What about the enslaved person, and his or her life?

For the record, slavery dominates world history from all the great civilizations down through time.  Slaves built the 13,170 mile long Great Wall of China.  Slaves built the Roman Empire.  Slaves labored, and in some cases, are still laboring in Africa, today. Slaves labored in India for centuries.  “Yes, slavery was a prominent institution in India for centuries, manifesting primarily as domestic servitude, debt bondage, and the use of enslaved people in the military.” 

Again, slaves built much of South America: “Slavery was widespread in South America. For centuries, the continent was a central hub for the global slave trade. Millions of Indigenous and African people were subjected to forced labor under European colonial powers, particularly the Spanish and Portuguese.” 

Australia enslaved people throughout its early history, and forced labor from colonization into the 20th century. While the early colonies technically adhered to British abolition laws, a variety of unfree, unpaid, and coercive labor systems were heavily utilized across the continent.

“Yes, slavery exists in Africa today, affecting an estimated 7 million people across the continent according to findings from the Walk Free Foundation. While traditional chattel slavery has been outlawed in every country, weak legal enforcement, poverty, and violent conflict allow various forms of modern servitude to persist
Of course, slavery manifested in America until 1865 with Lincoln’s Emancipation-Proclamation Act.” (Source: www.okoarefuge.org)

Here in the United States, our laws have protected everyone from slavery since 1865.  In other words, no one has suffered the horrific indignation of slavery in the United States for over 150 years.  Yet, many African-Americans want “Reparations” for past sins.

If such reparations were to be paid, how can “Reparations” be paid to millions upon millions of current citizens of slaves from all over the planet?

“Some Black New Yorkers demand cash payments as the only ‘true’ form of justice: Governor Kathy Hochul signed a bill in 2023 creating a commission to study slavery in New York and examine forms of reparations.” 

You’re seeing the same scrambling for reparations in Chicago, Los Angeles, Detroit, Atlanta, Dallas and many other cities.  Just because a person is a “person of color” does not mean that person’s ancestors were slaves. In fact, white people have faced slavery down through thousands of years. “White people have been enslaved throughout history.  For thousands of years, slavery was not based on race, and nearly every major civilization enslaved captives, prisoners of war, and debtors.”

So, in the end, who owes whom for slavery in 21st century America when no one has ever been a slave since 1865? 
Some Black New Yorkers are demanding cash reparations from the government as state officials consider some form of compensation for slavery or other past racial injustices. 

“We need $800,000 for each foundation of Black Americans. That’s simple,” Aubrey Muhammad told reporters “That’s — in New York — that’s about the cost of living that’ll get you a home or a small business or for you to recover from any financial duress.” 

The New York State Community Commission on Reparations Remedies held a public hearing last Saturday. The hearing followed up on when Gov. Kathy Hochul in 2023 signed a bill for a “community commission to study the history of slavery in New York state” to examine “various forms of reparations.”

If reparations would solve the problem, how would nations like China, India, Mexico, Ecuador and dozens of others determine which person was owed what amount of money?  Over 1,000,000 slaves died building The Great Wall of China. Millions died building Rome. In fact, at the Roman Coliseum, 1,000,000 slaves were slaughtered over 324 years of the games. Another 3,000,000 animals suffered horrific torture and death.

The overwhelming evidence in the United States tells authorities that white people owe black people “Reparations.”  The concept goes beyond absurd to “Super Absurd.”  Every black, white, brown, yellow and red American would owe money to every other black,  white, brown, yellow and red American.

“The Empire State joins several other states and local municipalities looking to issue reparations in some form, compensating Black residents for slavery or other instances of racial injustice. A Chicago suburb — Evanston, Illinois — went as far as paying $25,000 in cash to Black residents to address past racial housing discrimination through its program.”

What’s almost beyond stunning about the entire “Reparations” issue stems from the fact that highly educated people in power positions lack any reasonable context as to which persons might enjoy a windfall of money…without having earned it or suffered slavery—or lack comprehension as to the gross unfairness and stupidity of “Reparations.”

Whether your ancestors built Rome, The Great Wall, the Taj Mahal, Carthage, Sydney, Paris or Washington DC—there is NO WAY to figure out if you’re eligible or not, how much your ancestors worked for how long, or any other measurement for compensation.

The one thing you can be thankful for stems from the fact that every race, color, ethnic group and individual in America can thank his or her lucky stars for the highest standard of living in the world. Each individual in America enjoys extraordinary opportunities for self-expression, financial success through your work, and education at levels unheard of in much of the world.

How do you get paid “Reparations”?  Answer: study for top grades in school. Attain a college education. Attend trade schools that train you to get paid at tremendous salaries such as plumbers, electricians, home builders, doctors, nurses, mechanics and hundreds of other jobs. 

Remember this: no one owes you anything you don’t earn. Get yourself into America and contribute to your community. Contribute to your own well-being.  Once you maintain personal accountability and personal responsibility, we all benefit as a successful society.

###