06-25-2019, 09:02 AM
Who would be paid?
Nearly 47 million Americans identified themselves as black or African-American in the latest census. So who would qualify for a payment?
William A. Darity Jr., an economist at Duke University and a leading scholar on reparations, suggests two qualifying conditions: having at least one ancestor who was enslaved in the United States, and having identified oneself as African-American on a legal document for at least a decade before the approval of any reparations. The 10-year rule, he said, would help screen out anyone trying to cash in on a windfall.
According to these criteria, Oprah Winfrey, who has traced her DNA to slaves captured in West Africa in the early 19th century, would qualify. Former President Barack Obama, the son of a white American mother and a Kenyan father, might not. Mr. Darity estimates that roughly 30 million Americans would be eligible.
As for taking account of current wealth, a reparations program could link potential payouts to income and asset levels.
(continued)
Nearly 47 million Americans identified themselves as black or African-American in the latest census. So who would qualify for a payment?
William A. Darity Jr., an economist at Duke University and a leading scholar on reparations, suggests two qualifying conditions: having at least one ancestor who was enslaved in the United States, and having identified oneself as African-American on a legal document for at least a decade before the approval of any reparations. The 10-year rule, he said, would help screen out anyone trying to cash in on a windfall.
According to these criteria, Oprah Winfrey, who has traced her DNA to slaves captured in West Africa in the early 19th century, would qualify. Former President Barack Obama, the son of a white American mother and a Kenyan father, might not. Mr. Darity estimates that roughly 30 million Americans would be eligible.
As for taking account of current wealth, a reparations program could link potential payouts to income and asset levels.
(continued)