Reparations: Start With a Public Apology

As an American who has for years strongly supported reparations for slavery, I must admit that Earl Ofari Hutchinson has shed new light on some aspects of this issue (“It’s Not Time Yet for Slavery Reparations,” Commentary, Aug. 20). Hutchinson is right to point out that our country is not yet mature enough to support the reparations program as beautifully outlined in “The Debt” by Randall Robinson.

Some assert that my opinion does not matter because I am white. However, I believe that a public apology from the U.S. government--for allowing slavery and its toxic legacy to flourish for 250-plus years--would be an excellent start on the road toward reparations. If nothing else, it might help begin the emotional healing of many American blacks who want to feel included in the American dream.

I am ashamed and disgusted that the greatest nation in the world has yet to apologize or show genuine remorse for one of the darkest chapters in human history. If we can’t even say we’re sorry, how can we ever hope to civilly discuss the right thing to do?

Ellen Brown

San Diego

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I sincerely hope Hutchinson is playing devil’s advocate. This movement is not a matter of a “guilt-trip” for anyone who is not guilty. It is a movement aimed at inducing a government to settle its accounts. Whether the public is willing to buy in or not, fair is fair, just is just. Public opinion is often at variance with justice. This is not a frivolous proposal about money. This is about a system that has denied life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness to a race of people based solely on the fact that they are Africans and descendants of Africans.

Bondage durante vitae in North America was not an equal-opportunity proposition. It was for blacks only. The black codes of the North and South were for blacks only. To name only a few examples, loss of life and property in the New York draft riots should be compensated; loss of life and property in Rosewood, Fla., should be compensated; back pay for millions of hours of uncompensated labor by millions of sons and daughters of Africa should be compensated. This litany goes on. So if not now, when is it time to rectify at least some of this melange of issues?

Joyce C. Sheffie

Los Angeles

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Shouldn’t reparations for slavery be directed toward the Confederate States of America? The representatives of the Confederacy still fly the flag. They should be easy to find.

Gene Herd

Sherman Oaks