Dear Editor,
Quite a number of Black intellectual continues to misleadingly dominate the climate of opinions on the theme; reparations for the descendants of enslaved Africans by former colonial European institutions of slavery. The idea that contemporary institutions and governments of former slave holding European empires should make amends for the “atrocities” that were committed against the ancestors of people of African descent has no basis in logic and neither can it be empirically supported.
The logic that A (A being Governments and institutions of former slave-holding countries) is responsible for what B (the ancestors of A) did is at best specious and outlandishly absurd! Notwithstanding, some Black intellectuals, very much aware of this fallacy, quite often skillfully resort to the intricacies of language to argue fervently for redress for the “wrongs” that were supposedly committed against their ancestors.
The formation of any concept or idea to aid in one’s understanding of what the nature of man has done to his fellow man usually has strategies for its formation; strategic goals to be achieved, whether it be political, moral or economical, and slavery and reparations being concepts/ideas, and neutral ones at that, is no different.
The concept of slavery was conceptualised eons after man began naturally enslaving man and continues to be a state of nature to this day; apparently more biological determinism and less of free will. Seemingly it’s one of our many human frailties and “default” settings which it seems no amount of education and nurturing can undo. However, the operation of language by many black intellectuals pays scant regard to this fact, instead choosing to play on the moral sensibilities of Africans in the diaspora in pursuit of their personal goals.
Slavery is a natural phenomenon that still persists and alarmingly so, particularly on the continent of Africa, and a combination of factors have caused and still cause and enable some groups to be dominated and enslaved by others. And no amount of moralising and intellectualising will alter or adjust this cruel and inflexible truth.
So, thus far, has the narrative of reparation done more for the advancement and empowerment of people of African descent or has it encouraged the perpetuation of the culture of mendicancy and handouts? Let’s look at the pros and cons of reparations. Let’s look at the scientific evidence from any cost/benefit analysis for reparations. And finally, let’s look objectively at the concept of slavery in its entirety. Then and only then we might very well begin to recognise all the myths and falsities supporting its foundation.
Orlando Patterson
