Reparations: A Necessary Payback?

The term "40 acres and a mule" is one many Americans equate with the Reconstruction Era. General Sherman's Special Order 15 issued on January 16, 1965 created the practice whereby former slaves would receive arable land in Union occupied areas of the Confederacy. The order was rescinded by President Andrew Johnson who also oversaw the return of 400,000 acres of land from former slaves back to the original white owners. Since then, many African-Americans have been calling for repayment in the form of reparations.

Starlin Dotson, a senior majoring in Parks and Recreation Management said he doesn't believe reparations should be paid, at least "[n]ot to current generations, maybe those who were actually enslaved deserve them."

John Sackett, a junior Environmental Science major had a somewhat more cynical bent to his answer. When asked if he believed descendants of slaves deserved reparations, he noted "Lincoln felt slaves should be freed but didn't know what to do with them." Sackett mentioned he recently read that there were high level discussions during the closing days of the Civil War of sending newly freed slaves back to Africa. He went on to note that slavery has been common: "Some treatment was wrong, but slavery in general is just a part of society." He said he did not believe reparations were deserved, pointing out that in his view "[h]umanity sucks in general."

A senior International Business major and the first African American student asked this question, Mahogany Persip, gave a more humorous if rushed answer: "No, what the f***?! No, it's just another way for the white man to keep us dependent on them."

Kenny Pratt, who is part African American, responded "In this generation? False. No." The Mass Communications junior went on to suggest, "if there's a way to take reparations owed to past generations and put it into a college fund, maybe. Other than that, no."

Interestingly enough, another African American student went farther in her opposition. Asia Taylor, a senior focusing on video production, said not only does she not believe reparations are necessary, but "I don't believe in affirmative action either. I think we need to move past the color of our skin and look to the quality of our work." She continued explaining that she wants to get a job based on her qualifications not the color of her skin or use of a quota system. Returning to the issue of reparations she said "How would they do it? It'd be a long process."

Despite these views, there are still many who believe reparations are necessary, or at least believe the discussion is necessary. Monetary payment may be out of the question, but there are some who view affirmative action programs as a form of reparations. Further still, there are some who believe African Americans may be free from slavery but are still systematically discriminated against. Whatever the case may be, it appears students on Frostburg's campus don't agree with the notion.