THOUGHTS ABOUT YESTERDAY TODAY AND TOMORROW

THOUGHTS ABOUT YESTERDAY TODAY AND TOMORROW – as seem through my black eyes I have been following the Congressional Committee’s discussion on Reparation for the American Descendants of Slavery. As a historical fiction writer of black family life the concept of reparations is not new to me. What is new is the many interpretations of what reparation is and what it is intended to do and not do. Some people see it as something of value to be taken from white people and given to black people. Some don’t see the need for it–believing the harm to black people by the US Government is too far in the past. Others think reparation would do more harm than good for the already fragile black-white race relationships. It is this point of view that I find most curious even a little strange: it seems to anticipate an angry white response to even the discussion of reparation and perhaps an aggressively physical response if it should become a reality. This fear is well founded in the past white barbaric retaliation to the slightest sign of black economic progress. It’s as if these fearful people see inside the minds of whites and wish to avoid provoking their anger. I think a congressional commission to study reparation–its definition, its scope, and its duration it the just and honorable way to go. The commission must be guided by the specific harm done to African slaves and their American descendants, be guided by the appropriate remedies for bringing good physical, psychological and economic well-being to the whole of American Descendants of Slavery–particularly those descendants still shackled in the prisons of poverty. The commission should not be guided by fear of white retaliation. TODAY DEFINES YESTERDAY AND PREDICTS TOMORROW. We (AMERICANS) can only make our tomorrow today.

ADOS IDENTIFIABLE GROUP FOR REPARATION..

ADOS IS AN IDENTIFIABLE GROUP TO MAKE A LEGAL CLAIM FOR AMERICAN SLAVERY-DISCRIMINATION REPARATION Many groups and individuals have at times laid out a case for reparation. The identity of those groups and individuals have, more often than not, been at least ambiguous and at most virtually useless – for legal purposes. It would be misguided to think that all black groups or individuals with a slavery-discrimination grievance should seek redress from the American Government. Groups and individuals whose ancestors or themselves suffered harm under slavery-discrimination in another country should seek redress from that country. There is yet no world sovereign government with its own judiciary – not forgetting an enforcement arm. The best bet now is for groups within the diaspora to support each other where goals are common. American Descendants Of Slavery’s only reason for being is to secure reparation for ADOS.

REPARATION FOR ADOS - a debt owed

REPARATION FOR ADOS – a debt owed When grave harm has been done to a people those persons suffer a loss that can only be healed by something equivalent to their loss. Slavery, government policies dictating the lives of black people, and legalized discrimination have corrupted the economic, social, and psychological lives of generations from slavery till now. American Descendants of Slavery is a specific group that has been harmed, the United State Government is the institution that inflected the harm; the US Government must pay reparations. If you are one of those who think most black people are doing just fine economically, socially, psychologically–change your perspective. Move into that community you’ve been avoiding, talk to those people; visit their source of services: stores, restaurants, health facilities, liquor stores, churches. Most black people still suffer from the corruption government sanctioned discrimination forced upon their ancestors and themselves.

THOUGHTS ABOUT ADOS REPARATION

THOUGHTS ABOUT ADOS REPARATION – who gets it and why Once again REPARATION is part of conversation in public and social media. This is due in large part to Yvette Carnell of BREAKING BROWN and Antonia Moore of TONETALKS. These two have given reparation a specific focus that was new to me. They have identified who should get reparation, who should pay it and why. I pause here to make it clear that what I say is my take on what they make clear. ADOS is an acronym they created for a group of American Descendants of Slavery. This group has been up and growing for two plus years. I recently joined the group because the group has a specific identify; it has a specific goal and a specific reason for being. Generations of American Descendants of Slavery continue to suffer from the trauma endured during slavery and the many years of exclusion from legal protection, jobs, education, financial-institutions, healthcare-facilities, political-activity, housing and those privileges otherwise enjoyed by white citizens. American Descendants of Slavery have been harmed; the harmer is the American Government; ADOS has the right to a claim for redress; the appropriate party to pay for harm done to ADOS citizens is the United States Government.

THOUGHTS ABOUT REPARATION FOR ALL OR NONE

THOUGHTS ABOUT REPARATION FOR ALL DESCENDANTS OF SLAVES OR NONE – unnecessary dispute There may be circumstances where the all or nothing strategy is an effective tool but this would prove to be a fatal position if the dispute between ADOS and PANAFRICANIST ends in all descendants losing their justifiable claim to be made whole for the irreparable harm done them in slavery and the years of discrimination that followed. Pan Africanism was and for the most part still is a vision not a reality. Great black minds of different black cultures could (can) see the distinct African Root in the clusters of black people on every continent. These visionaries could (can) see the awesome power of these black cultures when coming together in self-awareness and singleness of mind and purpose. However, the black souls comprising these clusters are not fully aware of their own African root and even less aware of other black cultures. The evolution of Pan Africanism is still in process and it will take time and much work for it to be born. ADOS has given itself a unique identity and a single definitive purpose. American-Descendants-of-Slavery (ADOS) is its name and to secure Reparation for ADOS is its reason for being – its purpose. In addition, ADOS has identified the legal route to redress – payment for irreparable harm done. Therefore ADOS is the most viable vehicle to secure reparation. Its success could prove a model for other black descendants of slavery to follow.

THOUGHTS ABOUT BEING AMERICAN AND SALUTING THE FLAG

THOUGHTS ABOUT BEING AMERICAN AND SALUTING THE FLAG - ADOS I am an ADOS, American Descendant of Slavery, who salutes the flag and will continue to be and do such. I am not blind to the torture, the slaughter, the genocidal efforts of powerful white citizens, specifically, and the silence of many white citizens, in general, and their complicit actions to obstruct black efforts to recover and thrive following the force labor of slavery, Jim Crow laws, and the subtle but open white race discrimination which continues today. My Americanism and respect for the flag is innate because the blood of my parents and that of my ancestors soak the soil and saturate the waters of this nation and color its flag – it is to them that I give honor and respect.

THOUGHTS ABOUT REPARATION FOR ADOS - ...descendants of slavery

THOUGHTS ABOUT REPARATION FOR ADOS – American descendants of slavery Please ask your congressional representatives to VOTE YES to bring this ACT to the floor for a vote. H.R.40 - Commission to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African-Americans Act Official Titles - House of Representatives Official Title as Introduced To address the fundamental injustice, cruelty, brutality, and inhumanity of slavery in the United States and the 13 American colonies between 1619 and 1865 and to establish a commission to study and consider a national apology and proposal for reparations for the institution of slavery, its subsequent de jure and de facto racial and economic discrimination against African-Americans, and the impact of these forces on living African-Americans, to make recommendations to the Congress on appropriate remedies, and for other purposes.