Let's talk reparations.

[HeiressofBickworth]

3. I think the idea of reparations is fraught with problems

How would payments be made, individuals or communities?
If individuals, must they be able to trace their ancestors to slavery in the US.
Not all black people are descendents of slaves -- President Obama isn't, for example.
If not required to trace ancestors to slavery, how would individuals be singled out for payment?
How black do they need to be? President Obama is 50% (one parent).
How about someone who has only one grandparent who is black?
Or one great-grandparent?
If payable to a community, what would be the criteria for the community to be eligible for reparations?
Percentage of black population in the community?
Percentage of black unemployment in the community?
Percentage of black-owned businesses?

My personal preference would be to create scholarships -- full ride -- room, board and tuition -- for kids who graduate from high school.
Or, if the child prefers, full tuition, plus living expense, for a technical or trade school.

A check-in-hand would be gone in no time, but an education would pull people out of poverty for life.

P.S. It occurs to me that some may object to my use of the word "black". My wonderful, but now deceased, friend always referred to himself as black. He and I discussed reparations once. He wasn't sure how it would actually work.