Letters from Our Readers

Jahan Chowdhry, BAR Comments Editor

13 Mar 2019

This week readers engaged with the question of reparations for slavery and Black America’s stake in environmentalism. Strong responses came for “Reparations Now? Maybe In Order to Get the Job Done It’s Time to Call It Something Else”and “The Black Stake in the Green New Deal.”

In “Reparations Now? Maybe In Order to Get the Job Done It’s Time to Call It Something Else” Bruce Dixon argues that recent demands for reparations are not politically serious and that the black masses would be better served by pushing for more feasible demands.

Reaer Riquier writes:

“I understand that you believe a rebranding may take u guys further in reparation. I say ‘you guys’ because I am not an American Descendant of Slaves (ADOS). The ADOShave used different names like #Tangibles2020haven't they?
“Let me ask a question. What is your opinion on Yvette Carnell. She is talking to and for the lower-class. Correct me if I am wrong but she also has charisma.
“Pleases understand that all the descendants of African slaves around the world are watching u guys ADOSnow. What is the BAR position on the ADOSor #Tangible2020 current?”

Bruce responds:

"The ADOS thing is really, really poisonous. We are socialists, and we believe in solidarity. The ignorant right wing tropes Yvette and her friends traffic in are pretty much nonsense. We will address that stuff shortly.... We didn't wanna give it any more oxygen than it already has.
“It's a kind of black American nativism, and it's not surprising that it thrives in the Trump era. It's an example of some black folks becoming exactly the kind of ‘Americans’ which white racists always wanted us to become. I have no idea how you imagine Ms. Carnell is speaking to or for ‘the lower class’....
“Like I said, we'll be addressing some of ADOS's ignorant right wing tropes soon. Bet on that.”

In “The Black Stake in the Green New Deal” Glen Fordpushes for the black community to engage with the Green New Deal proposal on the basis of the National Black Political Agenda for Self-Determination

Garrett Connelly writes:

“A Green New Deal is not yet completely articulated. The National Black Political Agenda for Self-Determination has many of the facets missed in the Green New Deal so far. Why? The black agenda focuses on Justice.Amartya Sen wrote on The Meaning of Justice. The black agenda comes closest to Sen's idea of modern justice resting on three pillars; Justice for All, Justice for the future, and Justice with Nature. Healing Earth with human rights does not include equally shared jobs rebuilding infrastructure that facilitates harming Earth; Fixing bridges and freeways comes to mind as debatable.”

Reparations, environmental disaster, and other pressing issues are too serious to leave to corporate intellectuals. Please keep sharing your thoughts to help us compete in the realm of ideas.

Jahan Choudhryis Comments Editor for Black Agenda Report. He is an organizer with the Saturday Free School based in Philadelphia, PA

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