Reparations for Black Americans usually means restitution for damages done by slavery to them or their progeny. Therefore, when the Boston City Council voted unanimously last week to establish a task force to study reparations for Black Bostonians they had to be concerned about something other than slavery. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts outlawed slavery in 1783, so the City of Boston has no liability for damages inflicted by slavery.
Blacks have been very productive since 1783. It is insulting for anyone to assert that Blacks have been unable to move forward on their own over the past 239 years. What hostile power do antagonists think has successfully debilitated Blacks over those years?
There has always been racial hostility, but the Civil Rights Act of 1964 outlawing racism in education, employment and places of public accommodation has impugned outright discrimination. Blacks have to be wary of those seeking public attention and support who stir up the oppositions without implementing a solution to the problems.
Whether you like it or not, the Black community must be responsible for those allegedly acting on their behalf. Boston Blacks must not tolerate the insult that they are still impaired by the hostile infliction of slavery that ended 239 years ago.
