California’s Secretary of State, Shirley Weber confirmed in a recent interview that US reparations paid out by either American private industry, endowments, trust funds, private institutions, state municipalities’, or the US federal government should only go to those whose bloodlines can be traced to being held in bondage here in the United States.
“The fear my grandfather felt, I remember as a child, was palatable, and it crippled him and his family’s ability to dream beyond the cotton fields,” she expressed when recounting her family’s traumatizing history of fighting the white supremacist.
News of Sec. Weber’s comments come after several videos of Caribbean Community (CARICOM)emerged where leadership was caught stating that Caribbean US citizens who do not have a historical debt with the US government should also be paid reparations meant to go to Foundational Black Americans (FBA’s) or Blacks with a lineage of slavery in this land.
In September, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed legislation returning beachfront property to descendants of a Black couple who had their land stolen by white supremacist in the California state legislature. However, no monetary settlements have been made to the family, making the up keep of the gargantuan property unfeasible.
Critics warn that a gesture of this manner may infuriate native Black Americans who have a legitimate grievance with the municipalities and private institutions of the US, while some simply label CARICOM’s comments as insensitive.
Many worry that FBA citizens may become more skeptical of their immigrant counterparts.
Ian Wilson is a cyber security expert who runs his own technology consulting service. He is also a Foundational Black American who’s been tuning into arguments between FBA’s and foreigners on social media.
“To me it just feels like we extended our hand to them, and they feel they can openly spit in our face. The slurs they use when talking about us are disgusting.” Wilson says when asked his opinions on the Twitterspace mayhem.
“If they’re so great and going to ‘replace us’ why don’t they make their own homelands great?” he finished.
Disputes continue between FBA’s and foreign born Blacks, however there should be no dispute on who’s deserved compensation for their ancestors labor, stolen land, stolen wealth, and most importantly stolen lives. And its not for immigrants.
–Barrington Williams, Kerry Hill, B1Daily
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