Reparations or Future?

This reparations business doesn’t appear to be dying down any time soon… I have no passion for the argument. If the United States succeeds in…

by j. brotherlove

This reparations business doesn’t appear to be dying down any time soon…

I have no passion for the argument. If the United States succeeds in granting reparations, great; if not, oh well. That pretty much sums it up for me. I know that may be a horrible thing to read. But, if I can’t be honest on my own website, then damn. I see this reparation discussion as just one more thing to increase dissention amongst black folk — who are already incredibly polarized on serious issues that affect us, as it is.

Recognizing that my apathy for the issue isn’t politically positive, I’ve been reading the blog arguments and news articles for, and against, reparations and I cannot say I am any more passionate about the subject. The closest I’ve come to feeling anything is when I read Malcolm X’s quote equating reparations to familial debt and his position that “The only reason that the present generation of white Americans are in a position of economic strength…is because their fathers worked our fathers for over 400 years with no pay”. I found that argument powerful; it added a perspective I hadn’t considered. But I still lack drive for the subject of reparations because it places focus on my past instead of my future and I don’t like that imbalance.

I’m not trying to forget the past. Indeed, how can I? Most of my life, I’ve been taught and reminded of past sacrifices and injustices suffered by my ancestors. I’ve listened to stories and watched films about slavery, civil rights, racism… And you know what? It gets old. It’s gotten old — at least for me. I just want to live a satisfying — possibly even lucrative life. I don’t believe that wallowing in all of this negative nostalgia facilitates my progress. I know, firsthand, that racism and prejudice exist. When I am confronted with them, I deal with it. But, must I talk about slavery every day for the rest of my entire life? Instead of focusing on how difficult our lives were/are, what about now? I hear so much preaching on the perils of forgetting the past so as to not repeat it. And yet, all I see are patterns of our past. Who is looking out for our future? My future? Are reparations going to change that?

If, we (as a country) could enter discussions, reach an agreement and be done with it already, that would be cool. Because, after reading the less emotional views about the subject - I see the merits of reparations. I agree that, as a country, we should offer a formal declaration that slavery was fucked up. No two ways about that. But a speedy solution is impossible. All I see is lingering debate which will not improve the quality of life for black people. Aren’t people’s lives supposed to be better after all of this hoopla? I just don’t know. Makes me wanna holla and move to Paris. Perhaps, as I read more I will develop a stronger position of my own. One thing’s for sure, these weighty subjects are bumming me out. My next post has to be about The Anna Nicole Show or the cola identity crisis (Pepsi Blue, Vanilla Coke, Mountain Dew Code Red, Dr. Pepper Red Fusion, etc.) or I’m going to lose it!

It has been a pretty sober few weeks hasn’t it? I keep thinking I should be talking about drag queens again or something but I keep getting caught up.

I’m pretty apathetic about the whole reparations thing as well. I just get caught up in the rhetoric and get frustrated with portrayals and the love of BS over facts. Knowhatimean?

I doubt I’ll be posting about it again in the future.