The first female vice president of the United States and a well-known member of the Democratic Party thrust into the presidential race, Kamala Harris has made a strong case for racial justice and equity. Her views on reparations show a wider recognition of all the injustices done to African Americans throughout history, such as slavery, segregation and institutional racism. Here, we examine Harris’s policy recommendations to alleviate racial inequality, contextualize her position in the national conversation and examine her opinions on reparations.
Historical Background
The topic of reparations is complex and often divisive in American politics. Significant socioeconomic gaps still exist as a result of the history of slavery and the discriminatory laws that followed. African Americans no longer struggle for voting rights or equal access. However, many people still believe that there are challenges ahead for racial equality. Social issues such as reparations replaced the problems of the past with a mission for the future.
A concept of political justice known as reparations contends that the descendants of Africans who were trafficked to and enslaved in the Americas as a result of the Atlantic slave trade ought to receive compensation. As they have never been paid, this compensation is purely hypothetical. In contrast, some slave owners were compensated for the loss of their property through compensated emancipation, which is the money that various governments gave to some slave owners once slavery was outlawed.
Only one significant bill calling for reparations for slavery has been put up in the political arena—the Commission to Study Reparation Proposals for African Americans Act (H.R.40), which was introduced by former Rep. John Conyers Jr. (D–Mich.). From 1989 until his resignation in 2017, he made unsuccessful proposals to the U.S. Congress every year. A commission to investigate the impact of slavery on the social, political and economic life of African Americans was suggested by the measure, as its name implies.
Ta-Nehisi Coates, a well-known American journalist, wrote an article titled “The Case for Reparations” in 2014 that focused on the ongoing consequences of Jim Crow laws (laws that required segregation in schools, parks, libraries, drinking fountains, restrooms, buses, railroads and restaurants, having an impact on every element of African American daily life) and slavery and reaffirmed calls for reparations.
Coates refers to Conyers’ H.R.40 bill, stating that failure to adopt this bill demonstrates Congress’s unwillingness to make amends for its past wrongs.
Although not directly endorsing any particular reparations plan, the UN Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent urged Congress to enact H.R.40 in September 2016 to examine reparations proposals. Accordingly, the group acknowledged that the United States has a history of racial injustice.
African Americans’ civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights are still adversely affected by ideologies that guarantee the dominance of one group over another, even in the face of significant developments since the end of Jim Crow laws and the struggle for civil rights.
According to the UN Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent, social cohesion among Americans is impeded by the “dangerous ideology of white supremacy.”
Randall Robinson, an African American lawyer and activist who founded the TransAfrica advocacy group, stated in 1999 that the history of lynchings, race riots and institutional discrimination in America has “resulted in $1.4 trillion in losses for African Americans.”
According to economist Robert Browne, the ultimate aim of reparations is to “restore the African American community to the economic position it would have if it had not been subjected to slavery and discrimination.” An appropriate restitution amount, according to him, would be $1.4 trillion–$4.7 trillion, or around $142,000 for each African American living today. Other figures vary between $5.7 trillion and $14.2 trillion–$17.1 trillion.
In January 2019, Marianne Williamson detailed a plan for reparations in an interview with Ebony magazine. U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D–Mass.) and Cory Booker (D–N.J.) have indicated some support for reparations. Harris declared in April 2019 that she supports reparations.
Kamala Harris on Reparations
Harris agrees that historical injustices have made it difficult for African Americans to accumulate wealth, get an education and receive better healthcare. Her public remarks and lectures emphasize how crucial it is to recognize this past as a first step toward reparative justice.
There is a wealth gap, Harris said in a 2019 interview. It is the result of decades of institutional prejudice that has prevented African Americans from accumulating wealth. This viewpoint is consistent with the growing demands for reparations to rectify these historical injustices.
Kamala Harris’s Policy Proposals
Harris’s reparations strategy goes beyond conventional ideas of outright monetary compensation. She supports comprehensive measures that address systemic injustices, such as funding for underprivileged populations’ housing, healthcare and education. She suggests the following:
- Investment in African American communities: Harris has advocated for focused investments in historically underprivileged communities to foster economic growth and job creation. This covers financing for educational institutions, medical facilities and infrastructure upgrades.
- Support for Black-owned businesses: Harris has put forth policies to expand Black entrepreneurs’ access to capital, acknowledging that entrepreneurship can serve as a means for African Americans to accumulate wealth.
- Criminal justice reform: Harris supports changes that aim to address police violence and reduce mass imprisonment because she recognizes that Black people are disproportionately affected by the criminal justice system.
Although it is not a conventional reparations measure, Harris has supported universal basic income (UBI) as a means of giving needy families financial support, which could benefit Black households disproportionately, as institutional racism has historically impacted their economic growth and development.
National Dialogue and Legislative Efforts
Harris’s beliefs on reparations are consistent with a broader national dialogue on racial justice. Growing awareness of the necessity for a thorough analysis of reparative measures is reflected in the introduction of H.R.40. Her support demonstrates her dedication to finding a solution, even though she is not the bill’s sponsor.
Harris highlights the significance of dialogue and education in her campaign. To reach an agreement on reparative measures, she thinks it is essential to comprehend the historical background of racial inequality. “We cannot advance as a country unless we acknowledge the past,” she said.
Challenges and Critiques
Although many progressives have endorsed Harris’s initiatives, they have also drawn criticism. Some contend that in terms of direct reparations, her strategy falls short. Critics argue that measures centered on support and investment might only act as a band-aid for more serious systemic problems in the absence of particular financial reparations.
The political environment also hampers any reparative initiatives. Contentious economic and racial policy issues in the United States frequently result in partisan disputes, making it challenging to enact significant legislative reform.
Conclusion
Harris’s views on reparations demonstrate her dedication to redressing the historical wrongs done to African Americans by means of extensive legislative changes. Her suggestions seek to address the structural injustices that sustain racial imbalances, even though they might not be in line with conventional ideas of reparations.
As the national dialogue on racial justice emerges, Harris’s backing highlights the need for a multifaceted approach to American healing and reconciliation. Harris represents a vision of justice that aims to empower underprivileged communities and overcome the legacy of racial oppression by acknowledging the past and striving for a more equitable future.
Addressing the historical injustices experienced by marginalized communities—especially those impacted by slavery and systemic discrimination—requires reparations. These inequalities have led to long-lasting social and economic divides that still exist today.
Societies can start to mend and advance equity by recognizing and making changes for these wrongs. In addition to providing compensation, reparations acknowledge the humanity and dignity of the harmed parties, which promotes a sense of justice and accountability.
Furthermore, by promoting dialogues about inequality, history and racism, reparations can help bring about more significant social change. Putting reparative measures into place can destroy long-standing oppressive structures and advance laws that result in true equality.
This process involves more than just monetary compensation; it includes community investments, educational programs and policy changes meant to address past wrongs. In the end, the necessity of reparations emphasizes how critical it is to address historical injustices to create a more inclusive and equitable future for all.
