Do the Right Thing America! Pay Your Debt God Is Watching!

Wikipedia, The United States Foreign Aid, the Committee for Relief in Belgium (CRB) received $387 million ($387,000.000) in 1918 for food during WW1 from the United States government. Yes, that is long before the Great Depression in the 1930’s. Wow, that’s an amazing fact! Ok, let’s fast forward. In 2011, America contributed $49 billion ($49,000,000,000) in foreign aid. In 2012, America contributed $48 billion (48,000,000,000) in foreign aid. Lastly, in 2013, America contributed $51 billion (51,000,000,000) in foreign aid. Yes, I said billion with a “B.” If we calculated from 1918 to 2013, how much foreign aid would that total? Well, from 1918 to 2013 is 95 years. And we only covered the amounts of only four. Those four years alone totaled over 145 billion (145,000,000,000)! Yes, I said billion with a “B.” So, if we calculated every year of foreign aid from 1918 to now, what total would be your educated guess? It would be a mind-blowing amount of foreign aid! Easily in the trillion-dollar ball park! Correct? Remember, it takes 1000 billion to make one trillion. As I said before, America is an extremely charitable nation. Unfortunately, to other countries and not to America’s own needed population. I understand. Foreign aid is vital to Geo-politics and international relationships; however, there are domestic, moral and ethical responsibilities a nation has to its own people. Especially a people who have contributed to the largest economy in the world as a slave, a segregated citizen and a taxpayer. Now I present this critical question to you: Why have we, America, for the last 90 - 95 years given foreign aid to other countries totaling billions and billions of dollars and not given reparations to African Americans? America reveres the presidency of Abraham Lincoln. He is always mentioned as one of the greatest presidents of our nation. The Republican Party often boast of “The Party of Lincoln” at every opportunity. Yet, America and Republicans dishonors his presidency by not finishing what he began. Special Field Orders, Number 15 (reparations) was part of the reconstruction after the Civil War under the Lincoln administration. But America chooses to ignore the unfinished plan of a great president. For 244 years, African Americans contributed to the success of our nation with unpaid labor, aka King Cotton. African Americans then for another 101 years were subjected to oppression and segregation, aka Jim Crow. Not to mention, African Americans fought in the Civil War and both World Wars. Then to make matters worse, American public policy under President Nixon and his Law and Order campaign and then President Reagan and his War on Drugs campaign incarcerated African Americans at an alarming rate. America, your blatant silence and passive resistance in this matter is disgustingly unjust and unconscionable. We should be ashamed of the hypercritic representation of a moral high ground or American exceptional-ism and not make this right with the African American community. It is time to make this right! I realize there is a great deal of opposition to this. I am sure there was opposition to Japanese Americans receiving reparations; however Japanese Americans received 1.6 billion according to an article published by Democracy Now, “WWII Reparations: Japanese- Americans Internees.” I am also sure there was opposition to American Indians; however, they are due to receive 3.4 billion of reparations according to an article from CNN Politics, “U.S. Finalizes $3.4 billion settlement with American Indians.” I propose another critical question to you. How is it that this agreement with the Native Americans still has life and anticipating its compensation, but, African Americans are still fighting for equitable life and has not received any compensation? I understand why someone may think this would be too difficult to accomplish. But has anyone ever put forth a plan? What legislation are you aware of that addresses reparations for African Americans? I have heard of one such bill. House of Representatives 40 (H.R. 40) put forth by John Conyers, Jr: United States Congressman. This US Congressman of Michigan put forth this bill to study reparations and/or explore the causality of slavery. He has put this bill forward every year since 1989. Of course, it does not get any traction. I wonder why? I can say unequivocally that we the people will have to be the agitators for such a cause. And when I say we the people, I mean black and white support. Otherwise, it will remain divisive and one sided. We will need to be unified. We need a plan. We need a plan that is fair. We need a plan that is practical. We need to also keep in mind that African Americans have been subjected to an immense amount of abuse, harassment and violence for hundreds of years. The elimination of family generations, lineage and its archival value is priceless. It was a methodical practice to erase the genealogy of African Americans. Who can put a price on life? Who can predict the probable contribution an individual can make to his or her family and their generations? The potentiality for prosperity is worthy of reparations. The socioeconomic depravity and racial segregation of African Americans carries a fair market price of an enormous amount. The same politicians who will oppose Reparations for African Americans (RFAA) will be the same politicians who support nation building in other countries under foreign aid. I began this chapter with the amount of foreign aid given to other countries and also gave you data of reparations given to Japanese Americans and Native Americans. Reparations for African Americans will be a considerable amount of effort and compensation. However, compared to foreign aid, the ethical and moral responsibility America has in this issue, will pale in comparison. The opportunity is now to correct this irrefutable unethical time of our history. America could live up to its name as “America the Beautiful.” American exceptional-ism would be on its highest display. What is the plan you ask? Let us proceed!