Introduction
Different phenomena try to focus on and fight against racial discrimination in America. One such phenomenon can be identified through reparation claims. A debate has emerged on the eligibility of black people over reparation claims. Attempts have been made to analyze the true identity of black people in America and their ownership of land and other properties (D’Souza 97). A case investigating Manhattan Beach, which belonged to a black family, still raises concern on whether a family should be compensated for their land ownership claims or should be ignored. Therefore, reparation continues to spark pressure against racial discrimination practices experienced through the fight for rightful compensation.
Summary
Two brothers come out to state their story about the historic land property their ancestors owned before being snatched away and set aside as enslaved people. The truth is corroborated by archive records, old pictures, and family legends (Smith 2). Since the discovery of gold on the land, attempts were made to build different structures on the land across the American River that rightfully belonged to their family. The state practiced its power of eminent domain and acquired the area in question to develop a park (McCarthy 759). Since they had no choice, the remainder of the family had to relocate to other regions.
Analysis
The story brings out the concept of reparation that has continuously created a debate among critical decision-makers. The concept of reparation is the act of righting a wrong by making amends (Yamamoto 239). Effective, speedy, and adequate compensation is intended to further justice by addressing egregious violations of international human rights or humanitarian law. In the situation of the brothers who seek reparation for their stolen land that belonged to their great-grandfathers, it raises questions on the actual legitimacy of the ownership. They see reparation as the answer to the nations because racism is publicly acknowledged (Darity, William, and Kirsten 256). Because some task force members have emphasized the importance of addressing the injustice being done to all black people, regardless of heritage, this point is difficult to ignore.
The task force that oversees the claim has received different advice against issuing such directives on reparation. There is little doubt that requiring a bloodline as a prerequisite for giving money or land is California’s safest and most legally sound approach (Reed 49). Questions also emerge on the exact method that can be used for reparations. Anyone can claim to be an enslaved person’s family tree but provide evidence for that statement (Feagin and Kimberley 415). If you wanted to make sure, how would you do it? How can we ensure that those who have been wronged the most, the descendants of enslaved people, receive justice? It makes it hard for the relevant authorities to administer reparation to black families.
Conclusion
Reparation is a matter that tries to create peace or amend offences that were previously done. The denial of this aspect can arise due to the question of rightful legitimacy. Black people have faced racism of different kinds, including being sent away from their prime land for ownership by the whites. After a dispute that involved Manhattan Beach, one question that has not been answered yet is whether or not a black family should be rewarded for the land ownership claims they have made. In this particular instance, determining what fact is and what folklore is will be challenging despite being a claim from a black family facing racial discrimination.
Works Cited
Darity Jr, William A., and A. Kirsten Mullen. From here to equality: Reparations for Black Americans in the twenty-first century. UNC Press Books, 2022, Web.
D’Souza, Dinesh. What’s so great about America. Simon and Schuster, 2012.
Feagin, Joe R., and Kimberley Ducey. Racist America: Roots, current realities, and future reparations. Routledge, 2018. Web.
McCarthy, Thomas. “Coming to terms with our past, part II: On the morality and politics of reparations for slavery.” Political Theory, vol. 32, no. 6, 2004, pp. 750-772. Web.
Reed, Kaitlin. “We Are a Part of the Land and the Land Is Us.” Humboldt Journal of Social Relations, vol. 42, 2020. Web.
Smith, Eric. Why all Black people might not get reparations in California. Los Angeles Times, 2022. Web.
Yamamoto, Eric K. “Friend, or Foe or Something Else: Social Meanings of Redress and Reparations.” Denver Journal of International Law & Policy, vol. 20, no.2, 2020. Web.