Reparations and Economic Justice
On Sunday, September 24, Spelman College’s Social Justice Program greeted Dr. William A. Darity Jr. and Ms. A. Kirsten Mullen, co-authors of From Here to Equality: Reparations for Black Americans in the 21st Century. Dr. William A. Darity Jr. is a professor of public policy, African-American studies, and economics at Duke University. Ms. A. Kirsten Mullen is a writer, folklorist, consultant, and lecturer. The panelists were greeted by the Quarterman-Keller Scholars, which is the first educational initiative established by the Reparations Project. The Quarterman-Keller project is a nonprofit managed by the descendants of an enslaved coastal Georgia family and the descendants of their enslavers. The Quarterman-Keller scholars have been engaging with the text written by Dr. Darity and Ms. Mullen as a part of their research into the social, historical, and political impact of slavery.
From Here to Equality: Reparations for Balck Americans in the 21st Century was published in July of 2022 and has already received numerous accolades, including, but not limited to, the 2021 Best Book Awards in Social Change Category, American Book Fest, and the 2023 Outstanding Book Award, Section on Inequality, Poverty, and Mobility, American Sociological Association. The book approaches reparations through multiple lenses as it explores the socioeconomic and historical impact of reparations. Additionally, the book uses an economic and political framework to approach the concept of reparations for descendants of enslaved African Americans. Those who had the privilege of attending the panel left with invaluable knowledge about reparations and its manifestation in the 21st century. The panelists defined reparations as acknowledging a process to remedy the effects of harm in gender by taking responsibility or the act of restitution and compensation, with both parties gaining closure. Closure was defined as both parties agreeing on the terms provided and a condition of non-repetition.
Mullen and Darity further discussed their plans for reparations, including a timeline, eligibility, policy, and how much could be allocated. As stated by Dr. Darity and Ms. Mullen, the main goal of reparations is to close the racial wealth gap caused by the economic exploitation of enslavement and the racial violence that occurred in the years following. Black Americans are 12% of the population, yet they only constitute around 2% of the wealth, revealing significant economic racial disparities. According to the panelists, those eligible for reparations should meet two criteria: a direct lineage to an enslaved person and self-identification as African American or black for at least 12 years before the distribution of reparations. Mullen and Darity estimate that Black Americans are due around $14.3 trillion to address the harms and damages due to the long-term effects of slavery and the atrocities that followed. Each eligible person would receive around $352,000 from the federal government to work towards closing the racial wealth gap and provide compensation for the years of unpaid labor owed to their ancestors. During the panel, the authors addressed other efforts at reparations, including Georgetown’s policies to enroll and give scholarships to students who could trace their lineage to enslaved Americans. However, they explained that these efforts do not fully address the racial wealth gap or the damages due to enslavement. Dr. Darity drew the comparison of a knife being pulled out of the back instead of pulling the knife out, addressing the wound, and ensuring there would be no more stabbings.
The panel ended with questions from students ranging from how feasible reparations are today to whether they would be open to incarcerated individuals. The panelists stated that incarcerated or homeless individuals who meet the criteria for reparations would be guaranteed that payment. They also noted that the idea of reparations is growing among Americans. In 2000, only 4% of white Americans endorsed reparations, compared to 2023, where 30% approved. The panel on reparations for Black Americans in the 21st century is one of many book discussions the Social Justice Program hosts. These monthly colloquial discussions ask students to think critically about the world around them and their agency in change.
Tyler Dorsey
Editor, The Blue Record Podcast
