Peer research paper review

The New Yorker interviewed Ta-Nehisi for his article, “The Case for Reparations” which

struck a nerve with many people in America. The interviewer seemed skeptical about the whole

situation stating “How the issue looks in 2019..very different from when “The Case for

Reparations” was written.” They seem to be understanding why Ta-Nehisi wrote the article but

know not much has changed since it was written 6 years ago. Additionally, MaahfioOtchere, a

writer for “The Villanovan” digs deep for clues in order to get a better understanding of what

Coates is saying. Otchere seems to agree with Coates as he explains the reasoning behind the

need for reparations stating “ If we are going to do that shouldn’t the start be with reparations?”

Otchere also being a person of color understands Coates need for reparations. There is a great

divide between a black family and a white family and the biggest part of that is the wealth. From

the way America was built upon, people of color especially blacks were used as free labor and

production. Black communities continue to suffer because of America’s past and both writers

agree with Coates’s claim about reparations being necessary.

After doing research I learned that when writers like Coates talk about wanting reparations to

repair the damage America has caused black Americans, they don’t mean with just money or

compensation but with helping build better communities. Most of the writers being people of

color themselves, know what it feels like growing up with the effects of years of Slavery, Jim

Crow laws, Black codes and oppression. They aren’t expecting America to pay them with cash

but to help rebuild schools, hospitals, stores and homes in communities that are predominantly

black. The best way to work with reparations is to input those efforts into the community as a

whole. Reading Coates’ article also further deepened my understanding of why Black Americans

feel the way they do. After all these years, America has yet to compensate descendants of

enslaved black Americans for their labor. It was also made clear that the federal government

hasn’t made amends for anti-black housing, segregation, and many years of thrusting black

families to the worst situation possible and gentrifying the spaces where black families resided.

An example of this is seen in Coates essay section 1where he states “The elder Ross could not

read. He did not have a lawyer. He did not know anyone at the local courthouse. He could not

expect the police to be impartial. Effectively, the Ross family had no way to contest the claim

and no protection under the law.” Coates talks about Clyde Ross who is an important person in

his article. Ross and his family experienced what it’s like to be a person of color in every aspect.

They were not treated equally and the Government always found ways to take advantage of him

and his family. He’s mentioning how even after all these years, Blacks have not, and will not

forget the way they were treated and the things they’ve gone through because they feel like they

haven’t gotten paid back for it. Nothing has been done in favor of black people, instead America

makes it so nothing works in favor of black people. Americans tend to get sensitive on the topic

of slavery, segregation and the oppresion of black people and instead of addressing the issue and

giving blacks reparations for all thier hardships, they are basically pushed to ignore it or forget

about it. Americans, especially white Americans take advantage of people of color because they

believed they were less than people. Since they were not given the same opportunities, it’s easier

to take advantage of them. Blacks have yet to close that wound that America instilled into them

hundreds of years ago. Hence Coate’s suggestion that America needs reparations to help mend

what’s broken.

Another example of this is also seen in Coates essay, section 5, where Coates states “For the

next 250 years, American law worked to reduce black people to a class of untouchables and raise

all white men to the level of citizens.” He mentions how since the beginning of what is known as

America today, Blacks have always been at the bottom of the priority list. The people who

founded America had slaves themselves so black Americans are affected by the history of years

of slavery, oppression, segregation and racism with the ground rules they created. It seems as

though there hasn’t been much of a change since back then because America seems to let Black

people down in different forms everyday. They may promise to help with black people’s

problems with segregation so America can be more united, but place black people in worse

living conditions than their counterparts. Coate’s not only included the life of Clyde Ross and his

family but he also mentioned how that is the life for many black Americans. The laws created by

the founding father as Coates mentioned, weren’t made to protect the rights of the people who at

the time were slaves, but to ensure the rights of white Americans. Black Americans come from

years of slave labor, segregation, Jim Crow laws, blacks codes and the list goes on. They have

been oppressed since the beginning of what is known as America today. There is a reason black

Americans feel they deserve reparations and America chooses to turn the blind eye.

Coates ideas in this article truly showcases the problems America still faces today. We as a

country are extremely prideful of things like World War 1 and 2 and how our country is full of

war veterans but can’t accept the fact that early America was built on the backs of Slaves

hundreds of years ago. White people as well as the government push that time period in America

to be something from hundreds of years ago when in reality, the effects of slavery and

oppression are still seen today. With things like Redlining and predatory housing contracts and

the ongoing racism that continues to happen in America, it’s enough to understand why

reparations are necessary. I believe Coates ideas about reparations being necessary are justified

because black Americans still suffer from the history of being descendants of slaves and, because

the government doesn’t seem to be making serious changes to help unite America. Redlining is

usually associated with local governments as well as the federal government denying various

services. This was seen a lot throughout the U.S. and Canada and in Coates article when he’s

explaining redlining in Chicago. The government makes it so all the poor people, specifically

black people are grouped in areas where the buildings are run down, schools are defunded

and there aren’t many, if any, white people. As seen on page 7 section 1. Coates is basically

saying that to many organizations and federal services, the lives of the black people who

needed help were like a game of chess to them. Redlining is damaging to black communities

because it’s basically a form of segregation called housing segregation. This is why Coates

claims reparations are necessary for America to move forward. White people are placed in

the suburbs where the streets are cleaner, homes are more up to date, and there are rarely ever

any black people. Black people are put in the places no one else wants to be in, especially

white people and that’s how communities become segregated. Coates claims that unless

America fixes the issues made from their treatment against people of color, specifically African

Americans, these issues will never be solved. America needs reparations before trying to move

past their social problems. This closely relates to Coates claims because he talks about how years

of slavery, jim crow law, racist housing policies and being “separate but equal” is the reasonAmerica is so dysfunctional today