Ta-Nehisi Coates's article, “The Case for Reparations,” describes the extent of the oppression and racism of the American government towards its black citizens and how the nation could repay them. The underlying notions of racism have roots deep into the history of America. Dating back to slavery, black people in America have been abused politically, socially, and economically. We as a country have tried several times to make amends for these damages, only to have them to drive the divide further. The government created laws and bills that have been disguised to socially and economically benefit the disadvantaged of society. However, it did not work in favor of black citizens. It created a biased system, one that disproportionately benefitted …show more content…
Issues of the black community do not reflect the issues of the white community. Poverty, ghettos, and affirmative action are all issues that black communities face today. The “benefits” offered by affirmative action lightly touch upon the real issue, which suggests that preferential treatment could ultimately create the sense of racial equality. However, to what extent? A black college graduate with a degree has a lower chance of being employed for the same position as a competitor who is white; the chances of a company employing a black citizen in comparison to a competing white person with a criminal record is a lot lower. Black children growing up in ghettos will not have the opportunities they could have because of this oppressive state. This “special treatment” may have served as reparations but nonetheless will not cure the effects of African-American racism of the past in the present. Even laws meant to aid impoverished African-American communities have turned into aiding impoverished communities of all races, which will not benefit the African-American community as much as it meant