No, it would be impossible to help all ethnicities that suffered past injustice
History is the study of past events. The operative word is “past.” We can’t go back and help those people who in the past have suffered injustice. Probably every ethnic group on the planet has suffered injustice at one time or another. Can’t change that.
To attempt to pay reparations to descendants of all those ethnic groups who suffered is not possible.
However, that said, we can help ensure that all children are provided with the best education available. If schools in some communities need extra support, let’s spend those “reparation” dollars where it can do the most good. That’s an investment that will benefit all of us. Children are the future of our nation. Let’s learn from the past and do better.
— Ruth Watson, West Hills
Yes, the offending Democratic Party should pay the bill for them
The debate over slavery reparations always comes down to who should pay them. As a believer in reparations I think the offending party should be held libel, and that would be the Democratic Party.
It was formed in 1828 to promote, protect and defend institutional slavery. After the Civil War, it was responsible for the KKK, Jim Crow laws, segregation, separate but equal policies and opposition to civil rights legislation up until 1965. The DNC should apologize for its sordid history and pledge 50% of its donations to a fund to pay reparations.
I’m sure many will disagree with me, but ask yourselves this: “Would the African American community be better off today if the Democratic Party had never existed?”
— Joseph Vinetz, Los Angeles
Yes, immediately
African Americans should immediately be paid reparations for the hundred of years of free labor that their ancestors provided to build this country — my ancestors and millions of other African Americans who were tortured, raped, maimed while building and harvesting to make this country into an international power!
— Matthew Brazille, Long Beach
Additional responses will publish on Friday.
