Academic

The End of the Reparations Movement?

By propertyprof

Thanks to a pointer from Sally Greene--one of our nation's most thoughtful politicians--I see this op-ed piece by Walter Olson from the LA Times on the demise of the reparations movement.  I have a lot of thoughts on this and am looking forward to talking extensively about the future of the reparations movement.  They take off from the point that soon-to-be President Obama opposes them (at least as they're typically spoken about).  The short version of my thoughts: we're going to see a revival of anti-poverty social welfare programs, which will not be race-specific.  Those programs may very well disproportionately benefit descendants of slaves and those who suffered under Jim Crow.  And the programs may very well be justified, in part, on the basis of past injustice.  But I think those programs, to the extent there's any money left in the treasury for them, will be more largely justified on the basis of the government's power and obligation (which we have seen of late) to assist our citizens in improving their own lives.  Or at least that's what I predicted in the final chapter of Reparations Pro and Con, after suggesting some of the moral and legal problems in other forms of reparations--and some of the reasons why our nation ought to address the legacies of Jim Crow.  Whether that's the end or the beginning of reparations is something worth a lot more discussion.  And once I get home from the AALS hiring conference, I'm looking forward to giving it some more attention.

Alfred L. Brophy

Full post as published by The Faculty Lounge on November 07, 2008 (boomark / email).