But how precisely did this happen? What agency was responsible and how was it... Acted upon? I'm trying to imagine this as a city worker, like was there a responsible crew for doing this? Who gave the initial order for it?
When some people aren't considered people at all, socially nor legally, this kind of violence isn't really that big of a leap for many to make (still today, but especially when it was the social and cultural norm).
And this is just a single example out of probably millions in the same vein (here is one list of many with some of the more extreme examples, and only from the US, but the more you dig, the more you find).
Remember - white supremacy isn't the shark, it's the water, and we are absolutely not rid of the systems that allowed that kind of thing to happen then, and still allow it today. Hell people are still burning crosses in their Black neighbours' yards (or shooting them through a closed door), not to mention the systemic aspects like cops killing and abusing Black people without any repercussions, or the prison industrial complex which is essentially modern day slavery.
This is why it's so important to learn actual history, and not just the whitewashed version approved by those with all the power looking to maintain the status quo.
I know that seems like a lot of money (and keep in mind there has been zero apology, so no actual accountability, just an attempt at hush money), and I wouldn't blame anyone for taking it, but I doubt it comes even close to the true value of the land and property destroyed and repurposed, never mind the pain, suffering, loss of life, and generational trauma and disadvantage that the survivors and their decedents have had to endure.
It's better than nothing, but still pretty pathetic all things considered.
Edit: and yes, I would have my tax money pay for reparations any day - we as a society benefited, and we as a society should pay (the idea that no people who are working class today benefited from slavery is too absurd and wilfully ignorant to even address).
I also doubt that the people who don't want "their" taxes to go to this, sit real nice and quiet when billionaires and their corporations are bailed out with amounts thousands of times larger than what is offered to this one family who's community was literally massacered.
Also, nothing in the article says the money wouldn't be taxable income for the recipients so I guarantee they'll get screwed with taxes by both the federal and state government come tax time.
I don’t think it is the place of the government to give the money, it should be traced back to who profited from the Slaves and than the Families and Businesses should be the ones paying the money. IF the Government did profit from them they should pay their share as well, but it should not be tax payer dollars only.
....it should be traced back to who profited from the Slaves...
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The idea that the government, especially that of a country built on genocide and the backs of slaves (and kept their decedents segregated, marginalised, and persecuted for centuries after they were no longer seen as property), might somehow not be connected to, or profited from, never mind actively created the circumstances for and encouraged such events is the most ridiculous (or wilfully ignorant) thing I've read all week (and I've read about twitter DDoSing itself).
How is that justice? Or y'all just looking to milk these poor oppressed people to pay other poor oppressed people while people who profited keep their ill gotten gains...
Note how governments are all in debt, while daddy oligarchy is doing quite well...
I am sure it's very well intentioned, but it's not well thought out. That will fix nothing and only take away from people who need the help that money can provide now.
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