July 19^th 2000

Editor

Detroit Free Press

600 W. Fort St.

Detroit, MI 48226

Dear Editor:

We should all thank Walter Williams for making the best case so far for the need for reparations for African-Americans for nearly 300 years of brutal and inhumane chattel slavery (Free Press 7-12-00, Other Voices). Mr. Williams is a prime example of how slavery and racism has victimized many Black people. He hates his race and thereby himself. On the other hand he loves white people and is greatly concerned about their upkeep and welfare.

He postures as a so-called conservative but he really is what Malcolm X described as a "house Negro." During slavery the house Negro lived in the Master’s house. He loved the Master more than he did himself. If the Master got sick the house Negro would say, "What’s the matter boss, we sick?" If the Master’s house caught on fire the house Negro would fight harder to put out the blaze than the Master would. On the other hand, there was the field Negro who performed the bulk of the work on the plantation and was beaten daily. He hated the Master. If the Master got sick the field Negro would pray that he died. If the Master’s house caught on fire the field Negro would pray for a wind!

The brainwashing of the house Negro and the massive psychological assault on the minds of Black people in general produced many confused and sick members of our race. This cadre of lost souls of which Walter Williams is a vanguard member is prima-facie evidence of slavery’s brutal impact on our psyche. Mr. Williams article never mentioned the fact that many other groups have fought for and received reparations. Here are a few examples of the history of reparation payments:

1990 USA $1.2 Billion or $20,000 Each Japanese Americans

1990 Austria $ 25 Million Holocaust Survivors Jewish Claims on Austria

1988 Canada 260,000 Sq. Miles of Land Indians & Eskimos

1988 Canada $ 230 Million Japanese Canadians

1986 USA $ 32 Million/1836 Treaty Ottawas of Michigan

1985 USA $ 31 Million Chippewas of Wisconsin

1980 USA $ 81 Million Klamaths of Oregon

1971 USA $ 1 Billion/44 Million acres of land Alaska Native Land Settlement

Mr. Williams states his concern that today’s taxpayers may have to pay for what a white of yesteryear did to a Black of yesteryear. The US government has a long history of paying today for what was done yesteryear. The Marshall Plan and reparations for Japanese-Americans are good examples of that not to mention the yearly reparations given to Native Americans. By the way Native Americans pay no tuition to attend college in Michigan. The Michigan Legislature recently passed a law that would make any reparations paid to Jews in Michigan for the Nazi imposed holocaust of the 30s and 40s tax-free. The Jewish holocaust did not even happen in America! What about that Mr. Williams?

My bill for African-American reparations and Rep. Derrick Hale’s bills are bottled up in the Michigan House of Representatives by the same conservatives Mr. Williams so eagerly postures to. Mr. Williams is also ignorant of world history. Muslims never dominated any significant slave trade or slaves since the Europeans entered this vicious business in 1441. Henry Morton Stanley of Stanley-Livingston Fame lied about that issue to cover for the slaughter of 10 million Africans in the late 19^th and 20^th century in the Belgium Congo by the sick and evil King Leopold II of Belgium. It was Europe and America that made massive profits from the slave trade and slavery. In fact slavery gave rise to capitalism itself. Mr. Williams apparently does not understand that while the perpetrators and victims of slavery are dead, the bloody profits from this industry are still alive and the offspring of the slave masters are enjoying this money daily. Not only are we going after the government that sanctioned slavery, we are also going after the insurance companies, banks and other businesses that still use and enjoy slave wealth today.

Aetna life insurance and Barings Brother’s Bank are prime examples of this category of businesses. Yes Mr. Williams we want our reparations and we want them now! And finally I thought I would never hear any Black person; not even a house Negro, say publicly that slavery was good for us and "without slavery, many Blacks would be worse off today." Without slavery and the European and Arab rape of Africa our great civilizations that predates Europe, Asia, the Middle East would have developed normally, and would have given to this world the kind of humane and spiritual leadership it so badly needs. But don’t worry Mr. Williams, or perhaps you should worry-African Americans will be the vanguard of a new worldwide, multi-racial movement that will transform this messed up world to spiritual humanism. That’s right Mr. Williams and reparations will help us get there.

Reparations Now!

Sincerely yours,

Ed Vaughn

State Representative

FOURTH DISTRICT

THINC  ||  The DISH || Reparations