Most White Americans are not in favor of the U.S. government giving cash payments to descendants of slaves.
According to a new Gallup poll, 67 percent of Americans disagreed with the idea of reparations. And while only 29 percent of Americans were in support of cash reparations, that number represents an increase of 14 percent over 2002 numbers for Americans in favor of reparations.
The new poll was skewed when it came down to race. Only 16 percent of White people supported reparations and 73 percent of Black people were for it. Moreover, the Hispanic population leaned in favor of reparations as 47 percent were for cash reparations and 46 percent were against.
The U.S. House Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties held a hearing on reparations in June 2019. The bill, presented by Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Texas, calls for the creation of an expert commission that would study reparations and make recommendations to the U.S. Congress.
During the hearing, journalist and author Ta-Nehisi Coates shared his thoughts on why Blacks must be given reparations.
“While emancipation dead-bolted the door against the bandits of America, Jim Crow wedged the windows right open,” Coates added. “It was 150 years ago and it is right now. … McConnell cited civil rights legislation yesterday, as well he should because he was alive to witness the harassment, jailing, and betrayal of those responsible for that legislation. He was alive for the redlining of Chicago and the looting of Black homeowners of some $4 billion. Victims of that plunder are very much alive today. I am sure they’d love a word with the majority leader.”
