Monster readers, are you ready for this from another email? I have bolded the sections that are relevant. This is not the complete text as much of it is redundant, but rest assured; I read it.
From GovTrack:
Cosponsors [as of 2009-03-07]Commission to Study Reparation Proposals for African-Americans Act
To acknowledge the fundamental injustice, cruelty, brutality, and inhumanity of slavery in the United States and the 13 American colonies between 1619 and 1865 and to establish a commission to examine the institution of slavery, subsequently de jure and de facto racial and economic discrimination against African-Americans, and the impact of these forces on living African-Americans, to make recommendations to the Congress on appropriate remedies, and for other purposes.
Sections of the text that you may find interesting:
SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.
(a) Findings- The Congress finds that–
(1) approximately 4,000,000 Africans and their descendants were enslaved in the United States and colonies that became the United States from 1619 to 1865;
(2) the institution of slavery was constitutionally and statutorily sanctioned by the Government of the United States from 1789 through 1865;
(3) the slavery that flourished in the United States constituted an immoral and inhumane deprivation of Africans’ life, liberty, African citizenship rights, and cultural heritage, and denied them the fruits of their own labor; and
(4) sufficient inquiry has not been made into the effects of the institution of slavery on living African-Americans and society in the United States.
(b) Purpose- The purpose of this Act is to establish a commission to–
(1) examine the institution of slavery which existed from 1619 through 1865 within the United States and the colonies that became the United States, including the extent to which the Federal and State Governments constitutionally and statutorily supported the institution of slavery;
(2) examine de jure and de facto discrimination against freed slaves and their descendants from the end of the Civil War to the present, including economic, political, and social discrimination;
(3) examine the lingering negative effects of the institution of slavery and the discrimination described in paragraph (2) on living African-Americans and on society in the United States;
(4) recommend appropriate ways to educate the American public of the Commission’s findings;
(5) recommend appropriate remedies in consideration of the Commission’s findings on the matters described in paragraphs (1) and (2); and
(6) submit to the Congress the results of such examination, together with such recommendations.
SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT AND DUTIES.
(a) Establishment- There is established the Commission to Study Reparation Proposals for African-Americans (hereinafter in this Act referred to as the ‘Commission’).
(b) Duties- The Commission shall perform the following duties:
(1) Examine the institution of slavery which existed within the United States and the colonies that became the United States from 1619 through 1865. The Commission’s examination shall include an examination of–
(A) the capture and procurement of Africans;
(B) the transport of Africans to the United States and the colonies that became the United States for the purpose of enslavement, including their treatment during transport;
(C) the sale and acquisition of Africans as chattel property in interstate and instrastate commerce; and
(D) the treatment of African slaves in the colonies and the United States, including the deprivation of their freedom, exploitation of their labor, and destruction of their culture, language, religion, and families.
(2) Examine the extent to which the Federal and State governments of the United States supported the institution of slavery in constitutional and statutory provisions, including the extent to which such governments prevented, opposed, or restricted efforts of freed African slaves to repatriate to their homeland.
(3) Examine Federal and State laws that discriminated against freed African slaves and their descendants during the period between the end of the Civil War and the present.
(4) Examine other forms of discrimination in the public and private sectors against freed African slaves and their descendants during the period between the end of the Civil War and the present.
(5) Examine the lingering negative effects of the institution of slavery and the matters described in paragraphs (1), (2), (3), and (4) on living African-Americans and on society in the United States.
(6) Recommend appropriate ways to educate the American public of the Commission’s findings.
(7) Recommend appropriate remedies in consideration of the Commission’s findings on the matters described in paragraphs (1), (2), (3), and (4). In making such recommendations, the Commission shall address among other issues, the following questions:
(A) Whether the Government of the United States should offer a formal apology on behalf of the people of the United States for the perpetration of gross human rights violations on African slaves and their descendants.
(B) Whether African-Americans still suffer from the lingering effects of the matters described in paragraphs (1), (2), (3), and (4).
(C) Whether, in consideration of the Commission’s findings, any form of compensation to the descendants of African slaves is warranted.
(D) If the Commission finds that such compensation is warranted, what should be the amount of compensation, what form of compensation should be awarded, and who should be eligible for such compensation.
(c) Report to Congress- The Commission shall submit a written report of its findings and recommendations to the Congress not later than the date which is one year after the date of the first meeting of the Commission held pursuant to section 4(c).
SEC. 4. MEMBERSHIP.
(a) Number and Appointment- (1) The Commission shall be composed of 7 members, who shall be appointed, within 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, as follows:
(A) Three members shall be appointed by the President.
(B) Three members shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
(C) One member shall be appointed by the President pro tempore of the Senate.
(2) All members of the Commission shall be persons who are especially qualified to serve on the Commission by virtue of their education, training, or experience, particularly in the field of African-American studies.
SEC. 8. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
To carry out the provisions of this Act, there are authorized to be appropriated $8,000,000.
I think if one white man could be a black man for just one day he would then understand what it is all about!
move along now, nothing to see here.
I respect everyone’s opinion and will say that as a black person (African-American if you will) am not 100% sold on either side of this issue. However, please stop the madness with assigning every black person to welfare and comparing that to reparations. Statistically, there are more white people on welfare than blacks. Welfare is a class issue, not a racial issue. Please.
Aisha – you are talking apples and oranges here. And I would say that you are an american. I personally wish everybody would stop putting a race before “american” but that’s gonna take another 200 years before people get it.
I understand what you are trying to say though.
I do not and have never owned any slaves. The same is true of my parents and grandparents on each side of my family. I do not owe any human being anything because of something that happened 400 years ago. I know some slaves were treated badly which is very unfortunate. I also know that some slaves were treated very well and preferred to stay with their masters because they had a comfortable place to live and plenty to eat. I no longer feel that we need to provide food and shelter to any race free of charge.
If you think losing culture ,name , your god just for the food nobody wanted is nothing, you try living like a black for one day then you will understand how we are all affected by this wrong that has never been addressed in this country.we are the only race of people that was brought here in chains out of fear, and that same fear is still instill in people like you today. that what hold us back today we still have to work twice as hard to be even. people like jr can’t see that there scared to lose there place over blacks in this country. that what this whole thing is about. no white person wants to see blacks as a whole wealthy.that why its easy for them to tell us to get over it .I read something by a black conservative, his last name was king and i quote “there no such thing as a free lunch” this country has had a free lunch and now they should pay for eating so well off the backs of my forefathers . my grandparents parents was born slaves, i was born 1965 only 100yrs after emancipation was signed . and the effect of slavery are real take it from me we need to be made whole again as a people.
Move along obot.
Hey OZZ, you are a racist. How dare you have the nerve to generalize white people. Based on your incoherent ranting, and horrific writing ability, I assume you are not very intelligent, which is probably why you think you have to work twice as hard as every one else to be even. The fact that you would even think that “no white person wants to see blacks as a whole wealthy” is the reason racism still exists today. I take extreme offense to that comment. Do you in fact know every white person in the U.S.? Obviously you don’t know me! Do you even understand the difference between a German and a Russian? Or a Spaniard and a Pollock? We may all look the same to you, but I assure you we are just as different as an African and an Englishman. And by the way, go tell a Chinese person or an Irishman that blacks were the only race brought to the U.S. against their will and see what happens. And as far as “living like a black for a day” whatever that means, I grew up in an all black neighborhood, and I am still living in a predominantly black neighborhood, the majority of them have nicer homes and cars than I do! So what’s your point? Do you think just because I am white that I am automatically excepted where ever I go? That’s a nice fantasy, but it’s no truth. And by the way, which black person would you want us to live like for a day? How about Obama and Michelle? Yeah I see your point, that must be awful. They seem soo persecuted… I know that you were raised to never forget the atrocities that happened to blacks in the U.S. so many years ago, but as long as we continue to have black history month in our face, and black television, and black scholarship funds and groups like the NAACP, and black churches, etc. etc. then there can be no equality. The fact is, when you have members of the black community, deliberately alienating themselves from the rest of society; there can be no social equality? Separatism creates un-trust. You have to free yourself from the chains of color. There are just as many racist blacks as there are whites, or any other race. The apology was made to those who were oppressed. You say that this wrong has never been addressed in this Country!! What in the hell was the Civil War all about? Do you realize how many Americans died in that war because of this issue? What was the civil rights movement all about? Why are there laws in place such as affirmative action that assures that blacks have a place at the table even when they are FAR less qualified! And the fact that you would want me to pay you for something that happened over 100 years ago that had nothing to do with me or my family is BULLSHIT! By the way, I should mention that I am half Native American, Cherokee and Mohawk, although you cant tell by the color of my skin. I can tell you about injustices this country has inflicted on every race, especially my ancestors. But I’m not looking for anything other than my liberty, and to be left the hell alone by the Government. Life is rough for all of us who live below the poverty line, regardless of color. If you truly want to end racism in this country, start fighting for human rights rather than black rights, and stop blaming the white man for your failures and hardships. It is the rich man, as well as your own insecurities and social ignorance that’s causing you that pain, not me.
A reparations committee is putting the cart before the horse. Reparations is only given to human beings. The first thing that descendants of America’s slaves must do is regain human rights. Our human rights were snatched away and never returned. Generation after generation born and we are still 3/5’s of a human being in the U.S. Constitution.
Can we get that back first?
The only thing that Americans of “Afro-descent” are a slave to in this country is the democratic party.
Open your mind and think! What have the democrats (or republicans for that matter) done for you when they’ve held the White House and both houses of Congress? Not.A.Freaking.Thing.
It’s about keeping us all enslaved and fighting with each other. Wake up!