Evanston, Illinois has become the first city or state in US to pay reparations to black residents. Notice that money is being taken from everyone, regardless of race, past history of slave ownership, or time of arrival in the U.S., and is being given to a very small number (32?) of black families. This is nice, we are told, but certainly not nearly enough. We are told it will take, "a generation of work". So the taxpayers of Evanston have not solved the problem, but have actually created a problem, a drain on taxpayer funds that will last, if this group has its way, for decades. Are congratulations in order?

I'm waiting for anyone to put forward a proposal for reparations that will be conclusive and be considered as the end of any and all appeals to the past as legitimate excuses for the present. I don't mean that sarcastically. I do wonder if there are any proposals out there that have an end in mind.

Rather predictably, no provision is made in this statute for discouraging out of wedlock births.


The City Council in Evanston, Ill., voted 8-1 late Monday to approve a plan to make reparations (https://www.foxnews.com/politics/reparations-sheila-jackson-lee) available to Black residents over past discrimination and the lingering effects of slavery.
The plan, which could be the first of its kind in the U.S., is to distribute $400,000 to eligible Black households. The Associated Press reported that qualifying households in the city of 73,000 would be eligible to receive $25,000 for home repairs or down payments on property.
Ald. Robin Rue Simmons, the lawmaker who proposed the initiative back in 2019, called the approval a first step but said more needs to be done.
"It is, alone, not enough," she said, according to the Chicago Tribune. (https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/evanston/ct-evr-evanston-reparations-passes-tl-0325-20210323-hjetmkcmr5g5hhxaxjohovcmii-story.html) "We all know that the road to repair and justice in the Black community is going to be a generation of work. It’s going to be many programs and initiatives and more funding."

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/evanston-first-in-us-to-pay-reparations

The biggest lynching event in American history happened to my paisanos in New Orleans in 1891 . I demand reparations !

Most of the people of Evanston are working stiffs who's families had nothing to do with past injustices. Members of Illinois regiments that fought for the Union to end slavery were from Evanston .

One correction .... not everyone pays for it .....only pot smokers .

One correction .... not everyone pays for it .....only pot smokers .Very true. The article says, "The funding for the program will come from the 3% tax on the sale of recreational marijuana and donations." However, it's still money that could have gone into the general fund pot (pardon the pun).

Such actions in Evanston are not isolated incidents. Nor are they new since it's in many cities and states but are the first to be actually done so far.

Evanston, Illinois, approves the country's first reparations program for Black residents - KRDO (https://krdo.com/news/national-world/2021/03/23/evanston-illinois-approves-the-countrys-first-reparations-program-for-black-residents/)


Hannah-Jones describes this form of reparations as a “three-pronged approach.”
The first is the transfer of wealth to descendants of American slavery via individual cash payments, followed by “targeted resources into public schools and neighborhoods that have been generationally deprived of the similar types of investments that white neighborhoods have gotten,” along with “the strict enforcement of existing civil rights law.”

Such approaches echo the platforms (https://reparationscomm.org/about-naarc/) of groups that have organized Black-empowerment policy resources for decades. Groups like the NAARC (https://reparationscomm.org/reparations-plan/) and the IBW (https://ibw21.org/about/) continue to convene and theorize on reparations policy....


With a small handful of cities (https://www.cnn.com/2020/07/24/politics/asheville-reparations-community-breakdown/index.html) setting examples of what reparations can look like, there is more momentum for federal healing initiatives to address what many refer to as America’s original sin.
“Reparations for African Americans are based on paying restitution for 250 years of slavery followed by 100 years of racial apartheid, which we often call Jim Crow. So it’s really an attempt to address both the moral harm, and the crime that slavery and Jim Crow were, but also the wealth gap that was created by both of these institutions,” Hannah-Jones told CNN.

North Carolina city turns to reparations to heal 'a community breakdown' - CNNPolitics (https://www.cnn.com/2020/07/24/politics/asheville-reparations-community-breakdown/index.html)

"I find this wrong in so many ways and I strongly oppose it," added another caller who went by Keith. "The Black people aren't the only race that have been enslaved in America and around the world."
And in another angry call, a man who gave his name as Eddie conveyed a commonly held argument against reparations voiced largely by White opponents of the idea.
"We want to go on record to say that for 200 years, we are not responsible for what happened 200 years ago," Eddie said. "My White privilege is I grew up on a farm, I had 11 brothers and sisters, I baled hay, we milked cows, that is my White privilege, so ... that doesn't fly."
To that, some White proponents of reparations in Asheville say that the reparations proposal is not about guilt or blame being cast on White people. It is about recognizing that for decades, the government institutionalized policies that disadvantaged Black people.
The city itself, according to Councilwoman Julie Mayfield, is a prime example of how White residents have benefited from the racist policies of the past.



"Anybody to some degree who lives downtown and gets the benefit of the extraordinarily high property values, you could argue that they benefit from the fact that neighborhoods of color are no longer right up against downtown," said Mayfield. "As White people, we wake up every day and benefit from the systems that exist that keep people of color at an economic and educational and health disadvantage and give us a straighter track in the world.
She added: "Our world, in this country, is built for White people."

There is always someone who thinks a problem can be fixed by throwing OPM at it

The biggest lynching event in American history happened to my paisanos in New Orleans in 1891 . I demand reparations !

Were your paisanos lynched for 400 years under abject slavery for 250 years, Jim Crow for 100 years, and continuing discrimination including murder by cop?

False comparisons are not the right approach to a difficult problem.

Those who believe on reparations, have you already started with your own possessions? If not, then why not?

Reparations and an excuse, you cannot make reparations for what previous generations have done that is just victim mentality thinking

Those who believe on reparations, have you already started with your own possessions? If not, then why not?

Illogical since reparations are not charity but an attempt to right a wrong, and stop the suffering of victims of past mistakes. In this case the consensus of a collective was reached for such action and not just an individual, nor was it lightning in a bottle either as the subject has been bandied about for decades and even centuries on many levels.

Reparations and an excuse, you cannot make reparations for what previous generations have done that is just victim mentality thinking

Perpetrating those actions through current generations is not victim mentality and no excuse to not acknowledge the harm caused and do better by correcting those previous mistakes. So why down those that do so since is it really skin off your nose?

Are you really free from your own victim mentality?

Reparations and an excuse, you cannot make reparations for what previous generations have done that is just victim mentality thinking
I mostly agree with that. I do believe we should use our many resources to help others NOW in the best ways we can. We can't make up for the past but definitely can improve people's present and future.

I mostly agree with that. I do believe we should use our many resources to help others NOW in the best ways we can. We can't make up for the past but definitely can improve people's present and future.

Reparations are a form of that aren't they?

Reparations are a form of that aren't they?
I guess they would be. I worry more about people here and now, not the ones in the past. I guess it depends on how the reparations are presented and what meanings are derived from them.

I guess they would be. I worry more about people here and now, not the ones in the past. I guess it depends on how the reparations are presented and what meanings are derived from them.

It's not about the PEOPLE in the past, it's about the EVENTS in the past leading to problems for people here and now. Yes, it depends on how the reparations are presented and what meanings are derived from them.

There are many issues - taxing pot smokers is the source of paying reparations in the Evanston situation. How did the authorities arrive at that solution? Like any tax, some of the same recipients will be the payors also. That can get very confusing trying to even that out.

There is no question that slaves were a major contributing factor to the American economy especially, and obviously, in the South. Lincoln had a plan for reparations, but his assassination ended that.

The Japanese situation has been defended by saying their being placed in camps was illegal, while black slavery was legal. That seems like a weak argument to me.

And again. Those who believe in reparations, have you already started with your own possessions? If not, then why not?

And again. Those who believe in reparations, have you already started with your own possessions?
With my heart and soul and personal treasures!

With my heart and soul and personal treasures!They are not interested in your heart and soul. As to personal treasures, if you have started giving those to black people only in the form of racial reparations, then you are the rare liberal dem.

They are not interested in your heart and soul. As to personal treasures, if you have started giving those to black people only in the form of racial reparations, then you are the rare liberal dem.
I'm not a liberal dem. I'm a registered Republican!

And yes, they are very interested in my heart and soul, and respond in kind.

Kind of ignored this part. I wonder why? "As to personal treasures, if you have started giving those to black people only in the form of racial reparations..."

You are a registered repub who lives life as a liberal dem.

Kind of ignored this part.
Guess you'll never know, will you. No matter what I say or how I answer, you question my veracity.

Guess you'll never know, will you. No matter what I say or how I answer, you question my veracity.Not unless you tell us, and I've learned my lesson on that. It's like that unanswered PM I sent you. Silence often speaks volumes.

Reparations are only meant to devide people further. There is no healing because you have to apply it unevenly. What about those that sold their prisoners into slavery from Africa? What do they owe to this process. What about those that have a legacy and never were slaves ? How far do you carry it and devide people like when you have a person the is mixed. Would they be entitled to the full amount ?
Those decisions and others are going to drive a permanent wedge between people.
Farmers are recieving funds - up to $173,000 in debt relief plus 20% just for the color of thier skin. But what about the farmers of color that did pay thier bills on time and regularly ? Why are we leaving them out if the payments are a way of creating equity. What about Oakland,Ca.
https://www.cnn.com/2021/03/24/us/oakland-low-income-bipoc-guaranteed-income-trnd/index.html

There is no true way to sort all of this out cleanly.

Hey Dad, been a while but glad to see you still around. I respectfully submit that few experiments have worked that well for whatever reasons, so trying something different is just another step to solve age old problems in this country.

I also submit respectfully of course, that showing a guy how to fish is more productive than teaching submissive obedience to their "betters" who make the rules of the road exclusively in the first place.

lol showing a guy to fish from the guy who thinks the Government should give the fish away .

If you labored for centuries under the lash and shenanigans of cheap cruel labor you would be looking to get paid too.

lol showing a guy to fish from the guy who thinks the Government should give the fish away .

No, not give it away - pay back what is owed.

No I don't think I would . For ' centuries 'my ancestors survived day by day, and never until the 20th century having any thought of liberty or controlling their own destiny . Property in the old countries was subdivided and there was no opportunity to advance Booker T. Washington, in his memoirs 'The Man Farthest Down,' wrote “I saw Sicilian peasant families living in a single room with no chimney stone hearth for cooking (when there was food to cook)...one bunk (a heap of straw) upon which the entire family sleeps... the coarseness of such family existence is beyond description...”.

No I don't think I would . For ' centuries 'my ancestors survived day by day, and never until the 20th century having any thought of liberty or controlling their own destiny . Property in the old countries was subdivided and there was no opportunity to advance Booker T. Washington, in his memoirs 'The Man Farthest Down,' wrote “I saw Sicilian peasant families living in a single room with no chimney stone hearth for cooking (when there was food to cook)...one bunk (a heap of straw) upon which the entire family sleeps... the coarseness of such family existence is beyond description...”.

The issue is slavery - not the peasants of the past.

No I don't think I would . For ' centuries 'my ancestors survived day by day, and never until the 20th century having any thought of liberty or controlling their own destiny . Property in the old countries was subdivided and there was no opportunity to advance Booker T. Washington, in his memoirs 'The Man Farthest Down,' wrote “I saw Sicilian peasant families living in a single room with no chimney stone hearth for cooking (when there was food to cook)...one bunk (a heap of straw) upon which the entire family sleeps... the coarseness of such family existence is beyond description...”.

That's the very human story of many societies and in many places still exists...including here in the richest most advanced nation in the world.

As Athos points out, that's not what we are discussing. We're talking centuries of cruelty that still lingers to this day.

centuries of cruelty that still lingers to this day. You really believe this exaggeration ? It does not help your case to say that America of 2021 is the same as 1619 ;is the same as the 1830s ;is the same as the 1880s is the same as the 1960s ; as you and the history revisionists would have us believe .

You really believe this exaggeration ? It does not help your case to say that America of 2021 is the same as 1619 ;is the same as the 1830s ;is the same as the 1880s is the same as the 1960s ; as you and the history revisionists would have us believe .

You're reading that wrong. An example of the lingering cruelty is the knee-jerk reaction of some cops when confronting a black person that could be a man, a woman, or a child. We've all seen plenty of that in very recent times.

You really believe this exaggeration ? It does not help your case to say that America of 2021 is the same as 1619 ;is the same as the 1830s ;is the same as the 1880s is the same as the 1960s ; as you and the history revisionists would have us believe .
I wish I had a magic wand that would allow you to shop while Black, drive your 2017 SUV while Black, wear headphones and listen to lively music as you groove along on the village sidewalk while Black, stand in line at McDonald's while Black ... and so on.

And you would know all of this how?

And you would know all of this how?
I have eyes and ears.

So does everyone else.

So does everyone else.
Then you totally understand their frustration and even anger.

About as much as you do.

In the meantime, while white Americans pretend they understand their "frustration and even anger", the real problems black America faces, those being over 70% out of wedlock birth rate and being trapped in poor performing schools, go undiscussed and uncared about.

being trapped in poor performing schools
As I've posted before, this needs to change. Improving teacher education is the first challenge.

There are many factors that figure into school performance. Out of wedlock births is a huge one.

There are many factors that figure into school performance. Out of wedlock births is a huge one.
I'm talking about how the students who eventually become teachers are educated.

I wish I had a magic wand that would allow you to shop while Black, drive your 2017 SUV while Black, wear headphones and listen to lively music as you groove along on the village sidewalk while Black, stand in line at McDonald's while Black ... and so on. Let me know when you experience that .

I’m talking about the whole picture. To force poor families, or any family for that matter, to send their children to poor performing schools is criminal.

To force poor families, or any family for that matter, to send their children to poor performing schools is criminal.
Therefore, what needs to be changed in teacher education so that students don't go to "poor performing schools"?

They could start by stopping teachers from teaching a distorted version of American history like the 1619 Project .

You are assuming the problem is these “poor” teachers. I think you need to broaden your horizons.

You are assuming the problem is these “poor” teachers. I think you need to broaden your horizons.
No, the problem is crappy college curricula.

Might be part of the problem but not the major problem.

Might be part of the problem but not the major problem.
It's Problem #1.

There is no data to support that.

There is no data to support that.
If teachers don't know what to teach -- and HOW to teach -- the students ... finish the sentence.

There is no data to support your idea.

what data do you have?

Best book on the subject I know of is No Excuses by the Thernstroms. It is a detailed examination of NAEP scores. Another great one is Meaningful Differences which examines the differences in how poor kids are raised versus middle and upper class kids. Money is not the difference.

I think that the biggest thing that has to be overcome is the attitude of the students. They are so willing to tear eachother down and reject excellence for percieved fame. Be it dealing drugs or internet views.

On a side note: Thanks Tal for the welcome back. I never really left I just been in the shadows. AMHD isnt what it used to be.

Welcome cdad. Your observation about students has some merit.

Thank you

AMHD isnt what it used to be.That's sure true.

A task force for the Gavin Newsom clown show recommends reparations in California for every descendant of slaves to the tune of $223,200/person. This would total $569 billion .........more than the state's $512.8 billion total expenditures in 2021 .

A task force for the Gavin Newsom clown show recommends reparations in California for every descendant of slaves to the tune of $223,200/person. This would total $569 billion .........more than the state's $512.8 billion total expenditures in 2021 .Nothing for the descendants of men killed in the Union army fighting to free slaves? Why am I not surprised?

They are saying this is based on housing discrimination. if that is the case ;and it probably is to a degree ;then the specific victims of the polices should be identified and compensated.

Doubtless left out of the conversation will be some way to pay for this. The only truly just answer would be to have a tax on those responsible for past discrimination, be it housing or whatever. More likely will be an appeal to the feds for more monopoly money.

and the best part is if Gruesome Newson becomes Prez he will take his policy national .

I could actually support a targeted reparations program, paid for with additional taxes on all those who are descendants of former slave owners, if it meant that all talk of past injustices would cease and the issue would be considered closed. That is, of course, extraordinarily unlikely.

on another posting I gave the probable direction of this virtue signaling .

They want to take it globally
Clueless Joe loves giving your money away to the world (askmehelpdesk.com) (https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/showthread.php?t=850055&p=3886870#post3886870)

San Fran Reparations committee has proposed giving each long time Black resident $5 million and forgiving all their debts .


The proposal could cost the city, which has a 2022-2023 budget of $14 billion, roughly $50 billion

San Francisco reparations panel pitches $5M -- each -- to black residents (nypost.com) (https://nypost.com/2023/01/16/sf-reparations-panel-proposes-5m-lump-sum-payment-to-eligible-residents/)

Why just long-term residents? If reparations are really called for, then shouldn't all resident blacks get the dough? One way or the other, this is what happens when money is thought to be mere pieces of paper.

Now the clowns want to funnel Federal covid relief $$ to pay for reparations . BS BS BS !!!!

Tennessee County Considers Using Federal Covid Dollars For Reparations Programs (forbes.com) (https://www.forbes.com/sites/jaredcouncil/2023/02/18/tennessee-county-considers-using-federal-covid-dollars-for-reparations-programs/?sh=313c4fa46260)



More than 18 months after the economic crisis caused by lockdowns ended, there is still an enormous amount of unspent funding hanging around. The city of Providence, R.I., has hit on a seemingly new reason for spending the money: reparations for black and indigenous people.
The American Rescue Plan Act — a gargantuan $1.9 trillion spending package meant to enable the Biden administration to claim credit for taking bold and decisive action to end an economic crisis that was already over as of early 2021 (GDP growth was 6.3 percent that first quarter, following growth of 33.8 percent and 4.5 percent in the last two quarters of 2020) — shoveled so much money out to the cities that it has taken them some time to puzzle out what to do with the windfall. Providence is spending a $124 million federal grant on housing, infrastructure, and other things that have nothing to do with the pandemic, plus $10 million on reparations, via a yet-to-be-determined method.
Mayor Jorge Elorza says, “Reparations can take a lot of different shapes. We know that $10 million is not enough. We can’t right all the wrongs of the past, but we can take an important first step.”
Providence is a city of about 181,000, of whom about 18 percent are black or indigenous. A $10 million reparations package would, if distributed via direct cash payouts, amount to about 33,000 people getting a check for $300 each.


Providence Spending Covid Relief Funds on Reparations | National Review (https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/providence-r-i-spending-federal-covid-relief-funds-on-reparations/)

How high can they go ? The California Reparations task force has just increased the amount of money they want to give away. It was $220,000 per Black resident . But now they have increased their proposal to $360,000

California Weighs $360,000 in Reparations to Black Residents (bloomberglaw.com) (https://news.bloomberglaw.com/social-justice/california-weighs-360-000-in-reparations-to-black-residents)

This would be a $640 billion payout by a state that is basically broke. That means they will be looking for Federal relief .

When Gavin Newsom becomes President in 2024 it will become a national reparations plan .

Newsom running against DeSantis would be an interesting one. The governor of a successful state taking on the governor of a failed state. In other, more sane periods of time, Newsom would be laughed off the stage. This, however, is not a sane period.