Is it time to honestly start considering reparations for African-Americans?

Now that the United States government has officially decided to apologize for slavery and racism to African-Americans many Black people are wondering what's next. When you are responsible for a car accident or another type of injury to someone you have to pay restitution. What is the difference when it comes to the still lingering evils of slavery and racism? It is important to note that the apology is not simply for slavery but for the LEGACY and ramifications of it and Jim Crow. That is important because many opponents to slavery usually like to say that slavery happened so long ago. They are always eager to ignore the lasting legacy of slavery and the inhumane racism that slavery continues to perpetuate in the lives of millions of African-Americans today. Even President Obama is a victim of racism. All you have to do is look at the news for the biased coverage of his Presidency especially among right wing and Republican political pundits. How else do you explain his Presidency being called a failure after only a few months in office?

Reparations will not heal racism totally but it would finally put African-Americans on somewhat of a more equal footing with their White counterparts financially. This would undoubtedly lead to many Black people finally being able to not allow racism to determine their destinies. Opponents of reparations also like to forget that Southern White plantation owners were given reparations as payment for their so called property when slavery ended. It is outrageous that the racists gained financially even with the end of slavery and the victims themselves are not thought worthy of any financial redress.

African-Americans need to stop being afraid to demand reparations. It is our right and everyone knows that we were promised the infamous "40 acres and a mule", it is time to finally deliver on that promise.

What do you think?