Reparations

Abstract

Reparations should be central to political-economic analyses of inequality. But, books on inequality usually demur from a systematic analysis of reparations. Britain's Black Debt (Hilary McD. Beckles) , From Here to Equality (William A Darity Jr and A Kirsten Mullen) , and Reconsidering Reparations (Olúfẹmi O. Táíwò) are three respectable exceptions. Distinct but interlinked, might these books unearth more, if re-viewed together? Combined, what do these books reveal about the three most important questions about reparations? Why are reparations needed, what are the reasons for the limited support for the payment of reparations, and how might reparations be redesigned? Using these books as case studies, this article addresses these research questions. A synthesis of the evidence shows that reparations are urgently needed not only for past injustices, as commonly claimed, but also for present, and future reasons. Persistent myths, ideologies, and institutions tend to be obstructive, but these impediments can be resolved. Even so, reparationists need to also consider new ways of ensuring that, if existing inequalities and social stratification are addressed, the fission will not re-open. Closure must also challenge ecological and economic imperialism, not simply climate injustice.