Stratification Economics: Context Versus Culture and the Reparations Controversy

Abstract

The general intent of any program of reparations for a grievous injustice should be threefold: acknowledgment, redress (restitution or atonement), and closure. Acknowledgment involves recognition and admission of the wrong by the perpetrators and/or beneficiaries of the wrong. In the case of blacks, this would mean the receipt of a formal apology and a commitment for redress on the part of the American community as a whole. Restitution means restoration of the victims to their condition prior to the injustice or to a condition they might have attained had the injustice not taken place. Again, in the case of blacks, this would mean the adoption of a national program that would eliminate racial disparities in wealth, income, education, health, political participation, and future opportunity to engage in American social life. Atonement, an alternative form of redress, involves perpetrators and/or beneficiaries meeting whatever conditions of forgiveness are acceptable to the victims. Substantively these conditions will be the product of good faith negotiations between those wronged and the wrongdoers. These conditions could be identical with the requirements for restitution or could meet a weaker standard of compensation.