To many of us, you, US Rep. Alcey Hastings (D-FL) and the other gentle ladies of the House of Representatives became heroes by challenging Florida's Electoral College votes after the US Supreme Court decided in Bush v. Gore to stop counting legally cast ballots. The court thought the count might hurt Bush. Not only did that decision stand equal protection on its head, but the court's action showed at least five of its members are states' rights hypocrites. But, then hypocrisy abounds in American history when it comes to freedom, justice and equality for African American.

Black Georgians were proud to see our elected representative rise on this occasion to object to this injustice, even though others elected to represent us felt your action was tantamount to political suicide. Yet, your action gave us hope that some officials elected to represent us are as concerned as we are about the racism and discrimination that define the daily existence of black, poor and elderly Americans.

Like black voters around the country, Florida's black voters were disenfranchised wholesale to ensure a Bush Electoral College win. For those who are sincere about educating people about the roots of American racism, which includes the Electoral College, we hope your action conveys a sincere interest in addressing the root of our problem at the World Conference Against Racism (WCAR). Furthermore, as our unofficial spokesperson, we hope you wish to put forth the best position possible regarding our socioeconomic and political condition. Community efforts to raise awareness about WCAR through International Speak Outs and other activities are aimed at obtaining reparations for slave descendants and other victims of institutionalized racism across the Diaspora. For those reasons, we respectfully submit THINC on WCAR to aid you as our spokesperson at the most important international forum for slave descendants ever.

A. In the Beginning: The Great Compromise

Most Americans do not comprehend the significance of the fact that America's founding fathers discarded the democratic principles embodied in the Declaration of Independence when they ratified the U.S. Constitution (1789). This betrayal legalized slavery, established the Electoral College and made America a white supremacy republic. In a battle between democratic equality and greed, hypocrisy overrode the principle "all men are created equal." White supremacy became the law of the land.

Americans today are valued according to the Great Compromise in the marketplace for goods and services. The Great Compromise settled the dispute between large and small and free and slave states. Known as the 3/5 Compromise, it is the root of American racism. Article 1 Section 2 of the US Constitution, the first law codified the unequal socioeconomic and political condition blacks endure today. Dismissing democracy as America's form of government, the nation's founding fathers established a republic built on slavery. A scientific examination of the data shows America is a racist republic, which owes its wealth to slavery and institutionalized racism. Only hypocrites today bite their tongues when describing the consequences of this compromise and what it means for black Americans today. Relatively speaking, blacks in America exist under conditions that can only be characterized as institutionalized racism. Slavery never ended.

B. Chasm Analysis

A scientific analysis of American income and employment data supports the contention that the 3/5 Compromise is alive and well today in America. Employment is the main source of income, i.e., economic welfare, for the vast majority of Americans, black and white. Smith's chasm analysis of median family incomes, as well as, unemployment data of blacks and whites over the period from 1947-1999 proves this contention.

Family income data looks at the basic social group, and the gap between black and white family income is seen in every aspect of life in America. Even a per capita income comparison of blacks and whites reflects the 3/5 Compromise of Article 1 Section 2. In fact, historically, these relative values fluctuated along a narrow band of .5 to .65.

Since the 3/5 Compromise became law, the human values it established never changed. These are the 'traditional family values' white Republicans and Democrats talk of preserving. During campaign 2000, we identified 'traditional family values' as code words that white politicians use to throw racist bricks in plain sight. It telegraphs to other white men their support for the gentlemen's agreement struck by the founding fathers. Bush personified this in your face American campaign stump racism with his campaign pledge to appoint judges that strictly construct the Constitution.

Smith's chasm analysis gives us an effective argument for reparations. These claims are not for the whole of slavery, beginning with the Middle Passage, but are for the economic slavery that defines contemporary black existence in America. Black people are harmed daily by these traditional family values. The chasm analysis measures the economic pain or welfare loss for slave descendants. It shows that when America ratified the 3/5 Compromise, it chose an economic system that locked slave descendants into perpetual slavery. The law built in a way to control black income relative to white. It is the law stupid! Black inequality is controlled by American institutions; hence, institutionalized racism is the mantra for explaining the black dilemma. Bottom line is, the law keeps the value of black human capital at 3/5 of white human capital.

Any position put forth at WCAR needs to make the world aware of our legal and economic argument for reparations based on the human rights violations that occur on a daily in America's hostile environment. The chasm analysis is not a parlor trick, based on some distant past; it is a factual depiction of black life today. What happened in Florida was no fluke. Based on the 3/5 Compromise it is legal not to count 2/5 of the votes cast by blacks.

This failure to count black citizens' votes will continue to happen, if we do nothing to change Article 1 Section 2 of the US Constitution. Basically, blacks have no rights whites are bound to respect, which is the sentiment expressed by Chief Justice Taney in the Dred Scott decision that reaffirmed slavery. Your office indicated an interest in this research, as well as expressing a desire to host a session of the "International Speak Out" where you can bring in spokes people from the Bush Administration to explain WCAR and the role our government intends to play in that all-important world conference. America cannot afford to be absent; neither can it be allowed to prevent our story from being told.

C. The Present: Black Leadership Void

This Teaching Humanity in New Consciousness (THINC) on WCAR position paper is for all those claiming to represent black Americans especially slaves' descendants. Whether the Rainbow Push Coalition, National Urban League, SCLC, NAACP or some other initials, they must at least pay lip service to the root of American racism identified in chasm analysis. The black community waits for the likes of Reverends Andrew Young, Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton and Minister Louis Farrakhan to collectively or individually explain the root of the problem preventing Dr. King's dream from being realized, if it is not the solution presented in chasm analysis.

If Dr. King's "I have a Dream" speech is the goal, fundamental changes in the system are required. King's dream requires a revolution in law and thought, a transformation of America from a racist republic to a democracy. The hard work of which Dr. King spoke remains before us. He eloquently expressed our dilemma with great pathos. His words reflected noble morals and Christian ethics. Smith's chasm analysis is based on cold hard facts of American life. It identifies institutionalized racism and offers a measurement of its income effect, which we call Z. Chasm analysis provides prima facie evidence of disparate treatment, discrimination and human rights abuses. These are illegal acts under international law. Offenders of human rights violations pay reparations.

If the US is unwilling to discuss slavery and reparations at the World Conference Against Racism (WCAR), how, when and where will slave descendants discuss the proven institutionalized racism that shapes contemporary socioeconomic and political conditions in this country? In September 2000, the United States submitted its Initial Report to the United Nations' International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. After delaying its initial response for more than 30 years, the United States confessed to past and ongoing racial discrimination in violation of the Convention's articles, which expressly forbids disparate racial treatment. Submitted at the close of the Clinton Administration, the report offered a range of reasons for blatant noncompliance with the Convention's anti-racism stipulations and sought to justify why it has not paid reparations to African American victims of its institutionalized racism.

The Bush Administration is behaving as Bush the candidate behaved in South Carolina over the Confederate flag controversy. Showing his true colors, Bush declared, "It is a state matter for the citizens of South Carolina." Bush confirmed his racist perspective when he declared "I will appoint judges who strictly construct the Constitution." Support for strict construction implies support for the 3/5 Compromise. Like Richard Nixon, Bush supports the most divisive case law in American history. That case law begins with the argument that kept Dred Scott a slave in 'free' territory. Strict construction arguments supported Plessy v. Ferguson, argued against Brown v. Board of Education and most recently vehemently opposed affirmative action. Strict construction of the US Constitution leaves Article 1 Section 2 intact. There is no question that Article 1 Section 2 is the basis of American inequality. Bush vowed to maintain the status quo, those "traditional family values" code for keeping the inequality compromise the law of the land.

While some folks would suggest we not fight over symbols, the Confederate flag fight was symbolism all about the 3/5 Compromise. If we cannot change a flag, what can we do? Following Marty King, the leader of SCLC on changing Georgia's flag, black state legislators' acquiesced and passed a state law that enshrines Confederate heritage. Half-stepping, wishy-washy measures such as this has kept us in our current position. If we cannot see the problem, we can neither discuss it nor intelligently offer remedies. T.H.I.N.C.'s chasm analysis has identified the roots of American racism and has shown its impact on black Americans today, not during slavery. It is time those elected to lead us step up to the plate and speak to the 3/5 Compromise and ways to end it.

The DISH is dedicated to the dialogue on race; it has sought to highlight the fact that America is a racist republic founded on a system of economic slavery. Like clockwork, every chance Bush gets, he claims this nation is a democracy, despite the fact that America's founding fathers made it a republic. Something is wrong when adult Americans religiously parrot the lie school children are taught that confuses the noble principles of the Declaration of Independence with the U.S. Constitution, in which these principles are noticeably absent. The rule is black people are 40% off. The enclosed gift, a compact disc by the MoorEpics Slam Team 2001, poetically conveys our struggle. We encourage you to share it with WCAR. We understand you may not be allowed to speak and wish to provide a position paper to the United Nations. We offer our web page on reparations at http://www.thedish.ws. In one place, you will have access to our early research, some history on the reparations movement and articles written in The DISH and elsewhere about the chasm of inequality that can only be closed via massive reparations.

With hard scientific data and analysis, your position will have all the elements necessary to win any reparation debate. Understanding the argument will take some work, because so much of what we are taught is inaccurate, confusing lies and damn lies. My friends educated in public schools are having a hard time dealing with chasm analysis, because it is not what they were taught in school, which makes my point. They cannot admit to themselves the country they continue to pledge allegiance to never dismantled its slavery-based institutions and that they get only 60% of what whites receive in America's marketplace for goods and services. Above all else, that today in every way, black Americans exist in a hostile environment.

Exploring this situation for more than thirty years, we gladly share this research with as many people as possible. If those claiming to represent us are truly concerned about bettering the black human condition, then they will, at least, pay lip service to the root of American racism. Once the problem is understood, we can offer some realistic ways to measure and correct it. One international recognized remedy for institutionalized racism is the payment of reparations. Black leaders must embrace the one solution that can break the cycle of poverty created by slavery and institutionalized racism.

A. The Future: Amend the US Constitution

For THINC on WCAR, attaining Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s dream means repealing Article 1 Section 2 of the United States' Constitution, abolishing the Electoral College and paying reparations to those adversely affected by institutionalized racism. If the objective is to end racial discrimination, America's Constitution must be amended. As long as strict constructionists can interpret American law through the inequality of Article 1 Section 2, racism and discrimination will continue to determine the value of human capital.

Repealing the first law is necessary to abolish the Electoral College to establish one-person one-vote democracy. This will make America a democracy and will force the society to face its racism. Dr. King's dream will be the reality and equality will be the law. But, these things alone will not change the relative economic position of blacks and whites. Simply changing the law will not close the chasm of inequality. Reparation is the only remedy that will close the economic divide created by institutionalized racism.

B. Cash Settlement

In response to the question, "should the victims of American institutionalized racism receive a cash settlement?" Yes! For those who feel this is not feasible or question its necessity, our research shows only black fools think they have lost nothing as slaves in America. The individual cash settlement is an important part of our demand for reparations. Those who oppose it are either in denial or do not understand the welfare loss experienced by black Americans, based solely on color.

We can conservatively quantify the income effect of institutionalized racism on the individual. We propose using individual Social Security records, which provide annual social security wages earned on which the individual paid taxes. Actual earnings may have been more. For those with no such record, we propose a floor, based on the Social Security experience of black and white Americans. On average, blacks receive about $21, 000 less than whites. This is also the amount deemed reasonable in the cash settlement given Japanese Americans rounded up and placed in camps during WWII. With a floor, children who never worked receive a base amount. In addition to the base, individuals with Social Security work histories receive their Z for every year worked.

In the example below, we use the Social Security wages of a slave descendant that started to earn Social Security wages in 1968 at age seventeen. Born to sharecroppers, this person began working before age seventeen. Dated August 2000, 1999 is the last year shown according to this record. Over the course of that period 1968-1999, the black/white median income ratio varied along the narrow interval of .5 to .65. Using annual ratios, we can compute Z, or the difference between black and white median family income. This income gap proves institutionalized racism (IR), because where there is IR, z is the difference in welfare loss. Given an individual Social Security record, we can arrive at a reasonable cash settlement for an individual. Our formula for z, the income effect or that 40% off mandated by institutionalized racism such that blacks or x = 3/5y and x-z = y. Black (x) is a fraction of white (y). The historic fraction is 3/5 or 60%.

We use median family income ratios, because most people live in families. We could also use per capita income data, which display the same income gap for blacks and whites as the income gap between black and white families. Since the average is .60, you can add up all an individual's Social Security earnings and find x, in this case x = $408,662 for a y = $681,103, which yields a z of $272, 441. Notice this is based solely on Social Security wages, which makes this estimate of z conservative. It is more conservative still since we used the average, because most years the white to black family median income and the per capita income ratios were less than .60. But, most folks will accept this conservative estimate of z. Conscious blacks want their z! It is a black fool who thinks he and his kind have not been robbed in America!

C. Social Programs

In regards to social programs, we can be creative. The possibilities are limitless. These can include universal health care and education. Some have proposed ending the income tax for black Americans. Whatever programs the society chooses to implement in recognition of a need to ameliorate the damage, certainly the needs of sisters and brothers who wish to return to the motherland (Africa) must be among them. None of the programs implemented should be mandatory, so those black Americans who do not wish to be a part of the social programs can opt out of them.

Looking back over the past one hundred fifty years which includes Emancipation, slave descendants have been marching in place. Article 1 Section 2 of the United States Constitution, the Great Compromise is still the law of the land. It was never repealed, which has given strict constructionists cover to argue that Emancipation, the 13^th, 14^th and 15^th Amendments were all unconstitutional acts. They used the courts to undermined Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka and are reestablishing Plessy v. Ferguson's "separate but equal" to begin the new millennium. This contention is supported by Dot M. Smith's chasm analysis of the gap between black and white median family income and unemployment data as collected by the US Department of Labor.

This analysis shows that blacks relative to whites receive less in earnings, goods and services over their lifetime. This difference fluctuates along a narrow interval from .5 to .65 and represents a welfare loss of 40%. Reflecting the 3/5 Compromise mandated in Article 1 Section 2 of the US Constitution, this 2/5 loss for blacks has remained stable since the government began keeping records in 1947. Smith's analysis forms the heart of our claims for reparations from America. The 3/5 Compromise is clear evidence of legal racial discrimination and shows institutionalized racism is a permanent fixture in America's society.

The numbers speak for themselves. The United Nations World Conference Against Racism, Xenophobia, Racial Discrimination and Related Intolerance (WCAR) in Durban, South Africa August 31 - September 7, 2001 will be the first opportunity slave descendants will have to present our reparations claims to an international forum. The Bush administration is desperately trying to block all efforts to present these findings to WCAR. Bush knows that one hundred forty-eight years after Emancipation such blatant racial discrimination supported by institutionalized racism is indefensible. Consequently, Bush plans to boycott WCAR, if slave descendants are allowed to present this evidence to the world. Specifically, we need to present reports on the massacres that took place in Greenwood, OK (1921), Rosewood, FL (1923), the 1948 Walton County, Georgia lynching of George and May Murray Dorsey and Robert and Dorothy Malcolm, as well as Emmett Till and those pictured in James Allen's research for Without Sanctuary: Lynching Photography in America. This indisputable evidence supports our claims of modern day genocide.

Smith's chasm analysis moves slave descendants beyond statements based on emotion and pathos to hard cold facts of what America is doing today to deny blacks freedom, justice, and equality. Other countries that have committed such crimes have been judged guilty of crimes against humanity and forced to pay reparations to victims. Slave descendants in the Diaspora ask no more or less consideration than that Jews and Japanese victims received. This report set out a reasonable plan to begin the process of healing. Monetary compensation is a must to close the historical socioeconomic and political gap between blacks and whites in America. However, cultural/institutional changes must follow to reeducate the American public and place all citizens on the same level. That is the only way equal opportunity will have real meaning and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s dream will become a reality.

Enclosures:

MoorEpics Slam Team 2001 CD

THINC T-shirt

Copy of THINC