Should America Pay?: Slavery and the Raging Debate on Reparations

Raymond Winbush

Harper Collins, Jul 9, 2010 - Social Science - 482 pages

Growing interest in reparations for African Americans has prompted a range of responses, from lawsuits against major corporations and a march in Washington to an anti-reparations ad campaign. As a result, the link between slavery and contemporary race relations is more potent and obvious than ever. Grassroots organizers, lawmakers, and distinguished academics have embraced the idea that reparations should be pursued vigorously in the courts and legislature. But others ask, Who should pay? And could reparations help heal the wounds of the past?

This comprehensive collection -- the only of its kind -- gathers together the seminal essays and key participants in the debate. Pro-reparations essays, including contributions by Congressman John Conyers Jr., Christopher Hitchens, and Professor Molefi Asante, are countered with arguments by Shelby Steele, Armstrong Williams, and John McWhorter, among others. Also featured are important documents, such as the First Congressional Reparations Bill of 1867 and the Dakar Declaration of 2001, as well as a new chapter on the current status and future direction of the movement.

Contents

• The Crime of European: 3
• An Idea Whose Time Has Come Congressman John Conyers: 14
• The ExSlave Pension Movement: 22
• Native Hawaiians: 32
• Stealing Black Land in the United States: 46
• Reparations for the Descendants of American Slaves Under: 57
• Does America Owe a Debt to the Descendants of Its Slaves?: 79
• Is It Time to Reconsider the Case: 109
• Slave Taxes Kevin Outterson: 135
• International Law Jon M Van Dyke: 148
• Reflections on Homer Plessy and Reparations Omari L Winbush: 150
• Presumed Victims Armstrong Williams: 165
• Debt of Honor Christopher Hitchens: 172
• Against Reparations John McWhorter: 180
• Reparations Enshrine: 197
• The National Black United Front and the Reparations Movement: 203
• Its Creation and Contribution to the Reparations: 209
• The Popularization of the International Demand for Reparations: 226
• Facing History and Its Consequences: 239
• Repairing: 251
• The United States Debt Owed to Black People Haki R Madhubuti: 282
• Reparations + Education The Pass to Freedom Yaa Asantewa: 299
• Interview with Chester and Timothy Hurdle Barbara Ratliffe: 315
• Thirteenth Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments to the United: 323
• Congressman John Conyerss DMI Bill for a Study of the Impact: 331
• African Regional Preparatory Conference: 338
• FleetBoston Aetna Inc CSX: 348
• CURRENT STATUS AND FUTURE DIRECTIONS: 361
• Notes: 385
• Index: 403

Bibliographic information

• Title: Should America Pay?: Slavery and the Raging Debate on Reparations
• Editor: Raymond Winbush
• Edition: unabridged
• Publisher: Harper Collins, 2010
• ISBN: 0062013637, 9780062013637
• Length: 482 pages
• Subjects: Law / Civil Rights; Political Science / Civil Rights; Social Science / Ethnic Studies / American / African American & Black Studies