For this assignment, students should consider Ta-Nehisi Coates’ provocative article “The Case for Reparations.” https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2014/06/the-case-for-reparations/361631/Links to an external site.
In this article, among many other informative and thought-provoking things, Coates writes:
“And so we must imagine a new country. Reparations—by which I mean the full acceptance of our collective biography and its consequences—is the price we must pay to see ourselves squarely. The recovering alcoholic may well have to live with his illness for the rest of his life. But at least he is not living a drunken lie. Reparations beckons us to reject the intoxication of hubris and see America as it is—the work of fallible humans.”
After reading the article, and doing further research on the subject of “reparations,” take a position on the following question:
Should America pay reparations for slavery?
You should start your research by looking at the Bill proposed by Congress on reparations that is referenced in Coates’ article. See the government document here: https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/40Links to an external site.. Next, begin researching the concept of “reparations” generally. Coates provides examples from around the world of reparations for past injustices. Consider the following questions before taking your position:
1. What is reparations, conceptually speaking?
2. What are the potential positive and negative consequences of reparations?
3. How have reparations been executed in other cases?
4. If not reparations, then what? How do we right past injustices?
There are many arguments on both sides of this issue. Some arguments out there are rooted in racism, but many have a very logical and practical basis. DO NOT feel obligated to any particular position that you think might make others comfortable. DO NOT take a position that you think might appeal to me, as your instructor. I do not care what your position is. I only care that you do your research and provide credible evidence that supports your position!
Your essay should take a position (which side are you on?) on this issue and provide supporting evidence for the position you take. The position you take is your claim (as discussed in the five parts of an argument handout). This is the same as a thesis statement: A statement that is arguable.
You should also include at least one counter-claim or opposing viewpoint in your discussion. For this assignment, students are required to use at least 4 college-level sources to support your argument. These sources should include facts, statistics, and expert opinions on this issue. The sources should be relevant, current (no older than 10 years) and credible. Internet sources will not be accepted. The college databases are not Internet sources.
Acceptable source types: books, news sources, audio-visual sources, scholarly/academic journal articles.
Recommended Databases (Moorpark library): elibrary, CQ researcher, Opposing Viewpoints/Issues and Controversies, JSTOR, Infotrac Academic Onefile.
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