Fight
for reparations shifts to Capitol
|
On Friday,
September 27, 2002 at 10:00a.m., diverse groups from Black communities across the state of
Texas will be placing the demand for reparations at the seat of the Texas government at
the State Capitol and Governors Mansion in Austin, Texas. Sisters and brothers are
organizing in Houston, Dallas, Forth Worth, Austin and other Texas cities to let their
collective voice be heard on this vital issue.
The time has come for Texans to rise up and be counted. No matter what the religion,
social status, or political ideology, and collectively say “REPARATIONS
NOW!” This demand helps to the root of many problems Blacks have and
continue to face in this system. Surely many have all been outraged in various cities by
continuous acts of disregard for the lives of Black people because of police brutality
which is an extension or vestige of how Blacks were treated on the plantation. The
mis-education of Black children in the school system finds its origin in laws passed in
America that said it was a crime for Black people to read. Affirmative action is dead and
desegregation hasn’t worked. The following are some fundamental answers to frequently
asked questions about reparations.
WHAT ARE REPARATIONS? Repair for damages committed against a
people or a nation.
WHO HAS RECEIVED REPARATIONS? In 1990-Japanese Americans 1.2
Billion, 1952-Germany paid Jewish Holocaust Survivors 822 Million, 1971-Indigenous people
of Alaska 1 Billion & 44 Million Acres of land from the U.S., 1980 – Klamaths of
Oregon 81 Million, 1985-Sioux of South Dakota $105 Million, Seminole of Florida 12.3
Million and many others.
WHY SHOULD THE GOVERNMENT & COMPANIES PAY REPARATIONS? From
slavery up to today, the U.S. government and many companies have benefited from enslaved
Afrikan labor who have been subject to kidnapping, rape, murder, mis-education, lynching,
discrimination on jobs, victims of land theft, sent to prison in large numbers and pushed
out of their neighborhoods across the country.
WHAT ARE WE DEMANDING IN REPARATIONS? Many groups and people have
different ideas. Some ways reparations can be paid are money, land, free education,
freedom of political prisoners, freedom from taxes, resources for reviving Black
communities, resources for building an
Independent Nation, resources for returning home to Africa.
WILL REPARATIONS EVER HAPPEN? YES, through a strong, bold, Black
united struggle. Some people said chattel slavery would never end. Some people said Jim
Crow segregation would never end. We can make it happen!
ARE WE BEGGING THE WHITE MAN? NO, we are demanding our just due.
When other people received reparations no one called it begging. We built this country!
ARE WE EXPECTING SOMEONE ELSE TO FIX OUR PROBLEMS? NO. We must use
all means necessary to repair ourselves (internal reparations) from the damage of slavery,
discrimination, mis-education, police brutality, drug abuse etc. But, we cannot and will
not let America and other European countries off the hook for there past and present
crimes.
HOW CAN YOU HELP?
• Come to the Monday Night meetings 7:00p.m., at NBUF, 2428 Southmore, Houston.
(Between Dowling & Live Oak)
• Join the movement in Austin on Friday, September 27, 2002.
Local Action Committee for Reparations (LAC): National Black United Front, New Black
Panther Party, Sankofa Student Organization, S.H.A.P.E. Community Center, St.
Savior’s Church, National Coalition of Blacks for Reparations In America, Grace
Temple Ministries, Brothers Healing Brothers, Nation of Islam Muhammad Mosque #45,
Citizens for Better Media, Mt. Ararat Baptist Church, Harambee Council of Elders, Afrikans
United For Sanity Now, Black Heritage Society, Black United Fund of Texas, Progressive
Amateur Boxing Association, Sehah Youth Inc.
Call 713/942-0365 for more information. |
