Reparations

So before you come at me talking that stuff, I would like to say that yes I do know it is no longer Black History Month. In fact, I am sure we skimmed past Women’s History Month, April 20^th (i.e. Reflection on the Positive Impact Cannibus Has Had in our Society Day), and some other insignificant, but somehow important celebrations. Regardless, im gonna bring some knowledge to your attention, that is #frightening to say the least.

A good friend of mine, Trinidad Mary, 180-degrees from Trinidad James (mainly cause she enjoys Platinum, Diamond, Silver, and Gold on occasion), sent me a very interesting bit of news. This information, which I am not endorsing because the source is unknown AND because she’s a bit of a conspirator, broke some crazy ish down. Here’s the synopsis:

1.       The US has paid Reparations to various racial groups including but not limited to Japanese Americans, Ottawas, Chippewas, Seminoles, Sioux, Klamaths, and Alaska Natives.

2.       States such as Michigan, Wisconsin, Florida, South Dakota, and Oregon have paid reparations to various racial groups.

3.       The only group to receive national reparations was the Japanese Americans, an amount totaling $20,000 per person.

If you haven’t caught on to the point I am trying to make, let me try again:

The US has NOT paid Reparations to Blacks/African-Americans despite the 400+ years of slavery, billions of dead people, systemic oppression, and a semi-psychosis of self-defeat inherent in slave descendants, better known as Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome.

What was done to the Native Americans was truly horrible and recognized globally as wrong. What was done to the Japanese was painful and even more recent. However, the African-slave trade is an accepted mistake that is constantly ignored and whose effects are prevalant in today's society ("don't believe me, just watch" . . . BET. It's #coonery at best).

Maybe it’s because there are way too many Blacks/African-Americans to track. Maybe it’s because we are in so much debt that paying generations and generations of affected descendants wouldn’t stimulate the economy enough to provide a financial benefit to the US. Maybe it’s because no one cares.

So that brings me to my actual point: Will we ever get reparations? No, probably not. But the bigger question is Who in Black America is working on it???? Okay, I’ll wait. Nothing yet . . . I know. You can quit thinking because I am about to tell you something, NO ONE IS WORKING ON IT.

A pastor in Des Moines, Iowa told me that God doesn’t judge us on our actions, but rather our thoughts. It is your thoughts that dictate your actions. Then, he played some Kirk Franklin and I was done. B-T-dubbs, Iowa is kind of the shiznit. However, I digress.

Anyway, reparations are a complaint that has been reduced from a powerful consensus to a bashful annoyance. Yes, obviously, Blacks/African-Americans deserve it. It would be morally incorrect to disagree. But what self-less Colored/Negro is going to nail out the process of determining how to pay that out to every “Black” or “Afro-American” in the Continental US and possible territories? Should we just tell the Census that every registered Black gets a cut of $2,000,000?

I mean seriously, I would be mad, but I am realistic about it. America, unfortunately, is changing from the Salad to the Melting Pot. More and more care less about their "race/ethnicity/origin" and more are concerned with just being American. And as we plummet deeper into fiscal foolery, we will be more US vs. THEM.

But sir-eously, I want a check. . . #BoutThemFranklins