Reparations: it’s a word we’re hearing more and more. Repayment for societal debts.
New York is the latest state to make a move, with Gov. Kathy Hochul signing legislation to create a commission to study reparations for the harms of slavery. In Chicago, the mayor’s saying they should enact reparations to cut down on crime.
A California task force recommends paying hundreds of billions of dollars in compensation to descendants of black slaves—while the state faces a $68 billion deficit. Their proposal includes provisions for just about everything, including fixing drinking water and providing for the LGBTQ+ community.
They want their plan to be a blueprint for the country. But where will the funds come from? Who’s eligible to receive them? And can it really right past wrongs?
Zooming out globally, rich nations will now pay poor nations for climate change damage. Some suggest allowing more migration would be just compensation.
When are societal, generational debts essential to recognize and repay? And when might they do more harm than good?
We’ll find out with guests Horace Cooper, board member at the Center For Security Policy; Alex Newman, CEO of Liberty Sentinel Consulting; and Wilfred Reilly, political science professor at Kentucky State University.