Reparations
Some of the primary daily functions of The Men Of Color Having Answers Foundation (M.O.C.H.A.) are registering 1st time voters, thoroughly educating the voter on the voting process, and serving our community in a multitude of ways.
Arguably, the most challenging yet Pleasurable daily tasks of The M.O.C.H.A. Foundation is identifying the obstacles faced by people of color and finding effective SOLUTIONS for those issues. Reparations is the topic that we have chose to make our focal point today. Surprisingly, we are not debating the case for or against reparations. However, we are making a brief yet very compelling case for how reparations should be distributed among the descendants of enslaved Americans. A couple of facts that we cannot deny are as follows, America (on the backs of enslaved Africans) greatly benefited and became a world Economic Power because of it’s ability to Produce and Profit from the revenue generated from cotton. Another equally important fact is that enslaved Africans never received compensation for over 200 plus years of forced labor. Even after the Emancipation Proclamation and the Civil War had ended, ex-slaves still faced an enormous uphill battle for Human and Civil Rights. Eventually, The Voting Rights Act of 1965 was passed and many people of color still weren’t allowed to vote. Despite The Voting Rights Act being passed, many people of color were still disfranchised. This was after the 15th amendment prohibited explicit disenfranchisement on the basis of race and prior enslavement. These prohibited acts were common practice predominantly in the south. Unfortunately, Voting Disenfranchisement wasn’t the only obstruction that majorly disenfranchised people of color faced. According to a (5) volume compilation titled Historical Statistics, “Illiteracy rates after the Emancipation among the non-white population fell from 80 percent in 1870 to just 30 percent in 1910”. Yet many schools for people of color lacked funding and the proper tools that were needed to succeed. It wasn’t until the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was passed and through Desegregation that people of color were able to get the tools and resources necessary. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 superseded all state and local laws requiring segregation. The Civil Rights Act was necessary because in 1954 Supreme Court case Brown V. Board of Education outlawed segregated Public Educational Facilities for Blacks and Whites at a state level. Several states still continued to use old laws to carry on old traditions and policies. Despite both of these very serious Injustices, hurdles and stumbling blocks were continuously laid out in the path of Equality and True Freedom for ex-slaves. All of the horrible damage and devastation that have been intentionally inflicted on people of color aside, most of white America would still have a very difficult time accepting the mere thought of families of descendants of former enslaved Americans being paid anything at all; let alone compensations not be inclusive to them. Yet, we haven’t even scratched the surface on the long lasting effects of slavery on an already victimized race of people. However, in expecting any type of financial compensation; one must examine the current system, culture , and climate that we currently live in. A large amount of white America feels as though they had no involvement with enslavement and its terrible ramifications of former enslaved Americans. The majority of White Americans weren’t very fund of, nor were they in favor of compensating the descendants of former enslaved Americans, However, using my most unbiased opinion, I can somewhat understand how it is that they might feel that way considering that less than 10 percent of white America owned slaves at it peak. Honestly, it really shouldn’t come as a surprise that White America actually feels this way. It also doesn’t diminished the intentional long suffering, discrimination, and all the multiple different forms of abuse against People of Color. The questions now becomes, how do you properly repay a group of people who are responsible for catapulting and transcending the nation into the most powerful country in the world? If my recollection serves me right, every nation or group of people that America has destroyed or decimated, the U.S. government has either paid some sort of reparations or tried to rebuild after destruction. That statement was true for every other race that America has greatly effected, for the exception of the descendants of former enslaved Americans. No payment for the very people whom Contributed the most and paid the greatest cost of Freedom. In conclusion, The M.O.C.H.A. Foundation would like to offer a reasonable proposal for the direction of the Reparations distributions, so that we can acknowledge all of the various sacrifices that were made that were willful and unwilling by the descendant of enslaved Americans. Please join the discussion, it is the only way to begin to heal and to push forward towards accountability for Slavery. The only answer that is wrong, is one that isn’t communicated. Please review the M.O.C.H.A. proposal for reparations. Your support and donations are greatly appreciated.
Each Black American should be entitled to free education after completion of High School. This is for denying and banning education for the enslaved and the descendants.
Each Black American citizen should be able to vote no matter their status or prior criminal conviction(s). This is for denying and prohibiting Black America the right to vote.
Our history could’ve been reshaped had we had a voice. Every Black American Parent should be entitled to free childcare just as long as the parents have a job and/or stay enrolled in school. This is essential to the growth and development.
If America has any hope of ever repairing an already precarious relationship with Black America, then America will soon find its way to the negotiations table and stop delaying the process. This is only the starting point for Negotiations for Reparations!!!