Reparations for Black Folk 1 of 2
Today I believe I found the solution, or at least the beginning of it. For years I’ve been debating with self, talking to others around me, old, young, reading, writing, etc. Having had read Ta-Nahesi Coates’ essay on Reparations for the American negro, I know now how DEEP of a systematic issue we as a people are facing.
In this essay, Coates speaks upon the financial obstacles that have been systematically implemented to target black people as a whole; preying upon the ignorant and nostalgic. These predators defined, very distinctly, the race living lines that exist even to this day that carv out the city of Chicago. Modern day, instead of where you live being based upon race, it is based upon wealth, poverty, the gap, the line which a very large percentage of blacks and other people of color fall under.
Individuals during the 50’s in Chicago who migrated from the south (my ancestors included), came in hopes of owning that house, gaining that white picket fence. With emotions and vulnerability in an unchecked capital based society always comes predators. Out the gate due to this influx, whites in Chicago attempted to legally have segregated housing, but the courts would not allow BLATANT racism. Just like a spoiled child being told no, they found a way to push their agenda discretely. A culture of white flight and legal loan sharking became the standard.
It’s sad because I would love to place the blame for these injustices upon the individual whites involved in this scamming. But they also used emotion of their own people to cheat them out of their homes as well; paying black women with children to walk around neighborhoods to evoke fear. “There goes the neighborhood.” Whites often would sell their homes at a much lower price due to fears of loss in equity on their homes.
All this being said. School is a problem, the police, a problem, lack of equal opportunity, a problem. The big problem?? The system itself.
