A few years ago Thomas Sowell noted and Walter Williams echoed that if you compare current african-american income to that of black africa, "...we would owe them money." This was all in the context of a discussion concerning reparations that had gripped the headlines. On the surface they are correct, it's simple mathematics. On the other hand if you calculate what was lost the case tends once again in the favor of positive reparations.
The salient issue to the black economist is that African-Americans enjoy an exceedingly high quality of life compared to their brothers and sisters overseas. We are far more wealthy by most (if not all) comparative standards. We have access and leverage within the political system. We can own assets, assemble freely, organize at will for whatever purpose suits us, own spacious homes and luxury cars and enter into business. Even the poor among us do fairly well considering third world ghetto conditions.
The paradox is that we must do far better.
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3 comments:
Yo, Black -- Do you think that we, as African-Americans, should be pursuing reparations, or is it a red herring?
And, an even better question from a policy standpoint: what happens if we do get reparations? Does the government cut personal checks to black folks, or should the money go towards institutions (both educational and economic)?
If by repartions you mean social and economic benefit to right the past injustice of slavery I am all for it. Name one person who will work for free. We are entitled, yes entitled, to a share of the profits of our ancestors labor.
As for what form it will take there has been talk of giving any black man who wants it land in the midwest. As you may or may not know, the majority of land in the midwestern states is controlled by federal ,not state, government. I think we should get a check.
We're going to have to discuss this further, but I look forward to the offline debate.
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