| Middle Passage
Monument remembers
victims of slave trade
National
Coalition
of Blacks for
Reparations in America |
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Reparations
Now!
7/14/1999
Do I feel that America owes Blacks for our slave labor?
Emphatically yes!
As we watch the Jews receive compensation for their losses during the Jewish Holocaust and
the Japanese receive compensation for their unjust internment during World War II, for the
life of me, I cannot understand how anyone would deny Blacks their right of compensation!
How anyone could rationalize the denial of material compensation for a whole people, who
had been held hostage then remolded and redefined as as nig...rs, only sheds light on the
level of deceit and viciousness on behalf of the dominant society (as well as their negro
apologists).
Negro leaders, African-American leaders and BLACK leaders should at least agree that
damage has been done to our people, and like the Jews, we should go after the holdings of
every family, corporation and government that benefited (directly or indirectly) from the
suffering of our forefathers. A national class action suit against all of these entities
and/or individuals would be a good start. In short, we should be just as vigorous,
unrelenting and unforgiving as those Jewish organizations that are tracking down the
stolen assets of former Jewish holocaust victims.
William Muhammad
El Paso, TX
Reparations for slavery
7/14/99
I believe that Blacks should get reparations for slavery. The United States can point out
what it perceives is wrong with every nation on the planet--except her own. She points out
what she believes or what she wants others to believe is wrong in China, Sudan, Indonesia,
Kosovo, Libya, Iran, Cuba, The Republic of Congo, etc.
But what about the wrong that has gone on and that goes on each day in the United States?
She atones only when it is politically expedient. The U.S. is in the process of atoning
for recently bombing the Chinese embassy in Europe. A news agency reported that U.S. was
going to pay millions of dollars to the families of the dead and injured and their
families.
The U.S. has paid reparations to the Japanese
and others for her wrong done to those people. What about paying for the FBI Counter
Intelligence Program (COINTELLPRO),
a program designed by FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover to destroy Black organizations and
destroy our unity. Sure, President Clinton gave an apology for the Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment--it
took long enough. However, the U.S. has not gone far enough to atone to Blacks for ALL the
evils that she has done to us.
Trevor Muhammad
Selma, AL
Response to questionnaire
7/14/99
In response to the question. Yes, there should be reparations paid to the descendants of
all the slaves here in the Americas. This is only right and also long overdue! Time and
time again there have been monetary rewards given to the descendants of Jews, however,
when the subject comes up about reparations for the black man here in the good ol' US of
A, people lose their minds.
It seems to me if you can pay the Jews, the
Japanese -Americans, and our brothers, the Indians. Then why not your loyal ex-servants
for more than 400 years! If any one has more of a compelling record or case against
this country then it is the black man. I would also have to think that if the others would
become a part of the solution instead of the problem, then we would all be seeking true
justice. With this new found effort to treat everyone fairly, we could then begin to work
together to bring about a change in this nation so that people could go on with their
lives and enjoy this great country that we have built with the help of GOD!
Curtis Dewayne Walker
Houston, Texas
Slavery Reparations
7/14/99
The Anti-Defamation League is leading a charge of class action law suits against the
corporations which profited from Jewish slave labor during the Jewish holocaust of the
1940's.
If these lawsuits meet with any success, all Americans who
are descendants of slaves should file similar lawsuits. Not because it's fashionable or
the "in" thing to do, but because we too are holocaust survivors. Crimes--no
matter how old or how dusty the corner of your mind is that you've put them in-- should
[not] go unrecognized.!
Paula Dawson
Response to Opinion Poll
7/15/99
America should atone and pay reparations for the Black holocaust of slavery; at the same
time America has done enough. America has done enough of pretending to atone for her sins.
America could never atone and repent enough for her sins against us; America has never in
fact stopped sinning against us. I myself am a sinner, if Allah was not so Beneficent and
Merciful, I could not atone and repent enough for my sins against myself and others. I
have some sympathy for America by reason of my own faults. This sympathy does not prevent
me from recognizing the fact that while much effort at rectifying the long history and
presence of wrong seems to have been made by the great deceivers, little has in fact been
done.
There is little, if any, real desire in America to atone for her wrongs. This lack is made
clear by the failures of programs designed to "help" us. We still have not
gained freedom, justice, and equality under our slavemasters' ancestors; this remains true
even after numerous efforts at 'leveling the playing field'. Are we to believe that a
people who could effectively plan and build an atom bomb in top secrecy could not help us
achieve our goals of self-realization if she wanted to? That would defy the senses; we
must not be deceived again. She will not really do it for a simple reason: righteousness
is not in her.
So, even if America were to try to repair the damages she wrought it would not be for the
right reasons. What are righteous actions without righteous spirit?
Any attempt at atonement and/or reparations for our suffering, both present and past, on
the part of America should be viewed with extreme suspicion at the least.
Anna-Marie Rhodes
New York
A debt left unpaid
07/15/99
I believe that not only do America owes for years of past slavery, but also for present
slavery in the disguise of reverse discrimination. This is a calculated plan to make us as
African Americans believe that the court system has done so much to help us out that it
went too far. The question still remains, how can you discriminate against a people that
controls over "eighty-five percent" of America's resources.
LaVal Castleberry
President, Brothers United
Member of the International Association of Black Professional FireFighters - Valdosta,
Georgia
Reparations
07/15/99
America has benefited a great deal from the presence of Black People here in America. From
free labor to arts, culture, and the example of human spirit.
Meanwhile, Blacks in America have been actively pushed out of receiving benefit for
contribution to American society. We have become this nation's number one problem. America
will not let us go but she will not let us into her power structure. Each time a leader
has arisen from our people to represent our interests and move us forward, America has
actively conspired to silence that voice to maintain our subservient level in this
country. However, she is coming to realize that this problem will never go away. At what
point will she begin to see us as a problem too costly to continue to suppress but must be
gotten rid of? Or is it that she already has?
Donnell Muhammad,
New York.
Atonement & Reparations
7/16/99
Yes, we agree that reparations and Atonement should be forwarded. If every other culture
on this planet can receive such, why on earth should we not receive like treatment. This
government can find in its heart to reparate the Japanese, Germany can do the same for the
Jews, the Natives were given land, the European debt was forgiven. Yet we the descendants
of Slave America can't give the same JUSTICE to us. It is a deep rooted racism that still
controls the hearts and minds of our political leaders that won't allow this to be done
over with.
'Abdul-Khaaliq & Ameera A 'Ali
Wilmington, DE
REPARATIONS FOR SLAVERY
7/17/99
For over four hundred years ships sailed from the west coast of Africa to the east coast
of America with human cargo in the belly of the ship. America was built on the blood of
slave labor. America has been enriched on the blood of slave labor. Even though, the
Emancipation Proclamation ended slavery an apology was never issued nor monetary damage
awarded. It is time for America to own up to its past. America can never move
forward until it rectifies the past.
Calvin B. Clifton
Statesboro, Ga
Should America atone?
7/19/99
Should America atone...? Yes, but perhaps not as many would desire. Any financial
reparation would lessen the sins of slavery and it's subsequent debilitative effect on
Black people in this country. Also, if we were to pay off the Black population, how would
we determine who is a descendent and who is not. I could envision the court battles over
that issue. I used the term "pay-off" intentionally. Once you retire a debt, the
case is closed, finished, out of bounds for future discussion. White people would no
longer feel the need or moral obligation to address the obvious disadvantages slavery has
handed this nations' people.
Atonement should come in form of inclusion in
the larger American culture; politics, finance, education, media, and all other avenues
where our children can explore and discover themselves, their world, and future
opportunities free of oppressions' shadow. Efforts, legislative and doctrinally, worked by
all people should be sustained, given support
by all people. This must be an on-going, deliberate responsibility. We must not settle for
some paltry monetary fee to pay for our ancestors suffering (how much would YOU ask for -
it ain't enough).
Rick Newsome
Durham, NC
Repent & Reparations
7/20/99
America is long overdue in her repayment to the Black Man & Woman for their years of
blood, sweat & tears, to build a country that shows us little or no respect. She has
never made good on her promise after slavery was so-called abolished, to pay the
ex-slaves.
America does not realize that she must humble herself and pray to Allah God, and ask
forgiveness for her many sins, and mistreatment, not to just the black slaves that they
brought here from our homeland, but also her mistreatment of the Native Americans and all
of the darker peoples of the
earth.
They tried to discredit the Million Man March, not taking heed to the valuable message and
theme from the Bible (2 Chronicles 7:14): "If my people, which are called by my name,
shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then
will I hear from
heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal the land.".
Since at this time she has not submitted to this very vital instruction, she is on her
deathbed, and digging a deeper grave as time goes on--and time is running out!
If America won't repay, she will have to deal with the ultimate wrath of God. Allah is a
Just God, so if America does not treat the people with justice, she will be judged.
Charlotte D. Muhammad
Oakland, CA
Comments
7/20/99
Yes, I do believe that America owes a great Dept
to the African people But she will never be able to pay the Dept because we as black
people have lost So much and no
matter what they try to give or do will never be enough because do you repay someone when
you have Robbed, Raped, And Murdered Not just one Family Member but Millions of Family
Members so I do believe that They owe us But nothing they do now or later is going to Make
up or justify what they Done to us and Continue to do To Us!
Douglas Carson
North Carolina
Reparations
7/20/99
There is much case law in the American judicial system to support paying a settlement for
injustice. This type of settlement is made each day in courts: federal, state, and local
throughout the country. It is basically the only way in which the violator (US Government
in this instance) attempts to "make whole" the aggrieved party...Meaning that,
if it were not for the grievous act or acts against a said party (original people of
African ancestry in this instance), their lives would most probably not be fragmented or
suffering from the damage caused by the initiator and or supporter of the grievous act or
acts. So then the violator, in the American system of government, is to make amends by
restoring the aggrieved to "wholeness," up from the fragmented or ruined
existence, into near as possible whole existence supposedly guaranteed by the
constitution.
In this case basic humanity was denied. There is no amount of money in world banks to
completely correct this grievous and vicious act, however to attempt compensation for such
damage is an honorable beginning or step in the right direction. It is ludicrous and
irresponsible of the congress and any presidential administration to deny the right of the
aggrieved settlement of his or her grievances. To do so, on their part, is a blatant
undermining of the lives lost in support of this government that claims justice for all.
Mark Gatlin
Vice-president
American Federation of Government Employees
Local 3553
Reparations
7/21/99
An agreement needs to be made to begin
manufacturing of this nation's needs within the inner-cities of America. The inner-city
Blacks, Hispanics, Native Americans and poor Whites must have ownership in the country
that there tax dollars go to support. Its the backs of the poor of this Nation that keep
it alive. A sacred covenant must be developed now to bridge the gap between Corporate
greed and organized disenfranchisement.
America is in no position to pay reparations at this time. Even though she has paid it in
the past. The decline of the dollar may not allow those of us who desire reparations to
benefit fully from them.
However, Corporate America who has benefited the most from the policies of this government
must enter into a dialogue with the government and Black leadership, particularly Minster
Louis Farrakhan. A working Black man or poor man will have more respect for what he
receives in regards to reparations if there is a plan regarding the full spectrum of what
this Nation promises its tax paying citizens.
Wadell T. Muhammad
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