The Case for Reparations

In his article, Coates mentions the “Great Migration” of African Americans in the first half of the 20th century. What was the “Great Migration,” and what were its positive and negative consequences for African Americans? What long-term effects did it have for the United States in terms of culture, politics, economics, and demographics?

Examine the history of real estate practices in your city. Aside from federal regulations, which were the same everywhere, what local policies and decisions existed in the past to create the demographic pattern your city now has? Were any policies openly discriminatory against African Americans or other groups of people? Explain how these policies influenced the composition of and conditions in your city’s present-day neighborhoods.

President Woodrow Wilson stated that America’s entry into World War I was to “make the world safe for democracy,” yet Coates writes that African-American veterans of that war were attacked for wearing their uniforms. Examine the experiences of African Americans in both world wars of the 20th century. How did the reality for African Americans contrast with their expectations for participating in World Wars I and II? What, if anything, did African Americans gain from their participation?

Why does Coates believe that affirmative action policies are not enough to redress the past wrongs of slavery? Do you agree or disagree? Explain your position with specific examples.

Coates mentions the failure of several lawsuits seeking amends for past treatment of African Americans. In one, the survivors of the 1921 race riot in Tulsa, Oklahoma, sued both the city and the state. As Coates writes, “Similar suits pushed against corporations such as Aetna (which insured slaves) and Lehman Brothers (whose co-founding partner owned them) also have thus far failed.” Why were these three lawsuits unsuccessful? Would the same reasons apply to slavery reparations? How might reparations be different?