The U.S. pays reparations every day—just not to Black America
Estimated time45 minutes
Many people think of reparations as a radical or unprecedented idea.
The conversation in this article challenges that misconception by pointing out that the United States already provides reparations in many forms. Governments compensate veterans, victims of terrorism, people harmed by government actions, and communities affected by disasters. The question is not whether reparations are possible. The question is who receives them and why.
Listen to the podcast on harvard.edu
In this discussion, Cornell William Brooks and Linda Bilmes explore the gap between America's long history of restorative justice and its reluctance to address the enduring harms of slavery, segregation, and racial discrimination. They invite us to think about reparations not as charity, but as a response to documented harms that continue to shape opportunities, wealth, health, and community outcomes today.
As you listen, reflect on these questions:
What kinds of harms do we generally agree deserve repair?
Why do some forms of reparations feel familiar while others feel controversial?
What is the difference between helping people in need and repairing a historical injustice?
Repair is already part of how our society responds to harm. The deeper question is whether we are willing to apply that principle to Black America.