The Economics of Reparations
What if reparations meant the government would give a $400,000 portfolio of benefits to every descendant of slaves?
We explored this specific reparations scenario with William Darity, professor of Public Policy, African American Studies and Economics at Duke.
He suggested a few ways to execute it, including cash payments directly to eligible individuals and a portion of reparations funds for a variety of institution-building components.
🔊 Hear more: Yesterday, we welcomed calls on different possible scenarios of reparations. Listen to the conversation, with Slate's Jamelle Bouie, right here.
And you can keep this conversation going anytime on Twitter @BrianLehrer, using the hashtag #ImagineReparations.
Reparations is 100% student loan forgiveness #imaginereparations
— L. Darcel (@BelleUnplugged) February 19, 2016
@es_snipes Many don't realize Dr. King referenced the need for reparations in "I Have A Dream"@BrianLehrer https://t.co/xd8PeNLytX
— Tricia Harris (@triciaharris) February 19, 2016
@es_snipes @BrianLehrer #MLK talking about reparations..."We are coming to get our check!" #ImagineReparations https://t.co/QKIPnAbVaG
— Tricia Harris (@triciaharris) February 19, 2016
@BrianLehrer Only way reparations could be implemented is to give African- Americans over the age of 48 (End of Jim Crow) a tax-free life.
— Vincent Cimilluca (@VCimilluca) February 19, 2016
Not against monetary & economic repair. But I still don't see how payments & programs will address anti-blackness. #imaginereparations
— Dr. Crystal (@alwaystheself) February 19, 2016
Education does not close the wealth gap. College degreed blacks have $10k less in wealth than non-educated whites. #reparations @BrianLehrer
— Blu_wire@11 (@Blu_wire11) February 19, 2016
Reparations is american history textbooks that require literacy and learning abt the history of slavery for all students #imaginereparations
— Adrinda Kelly (@AdrindaKelly) February 19, 2016
@BrianLehrer Actually, I don't think we know WHAT a reparations program would look like. We only know that we WANT one.#ImagineReparations
— Charles T Franklin (@creativedropout) February 19, 2016
