A Time for Economic Reparation?

The resulting controversies surrounding the statues of prominent white men along with the symbols of slavery on both sides of the Atlantic provide the on-going tensions and views expressed in all things black and white, with racism in all its forms and the power that it affords the white privilege that denies the economic empowerment of the black community.

There is now more than enough evidence to suggest that Covid-19 has disproportionately seen black and coloured lives infected with mortality as a result. The cause, effect and impact is the result of the social, cultural and economics of poverty, the lack of educational attainment and the resulting lack of hope and opportunity of skills that would be employable or indeed entrepreneurial.  This in turn leads to crime, violence and the overall impact on communities and society as a whole. 

The policing of our communities, whether it be stop and search in Britain or Stop and Frisk in the States has seen many black lives lost to the black on black crime that poverty has seen result with the militarisation of the black community and the policing methods that saw George Floyd become the symbol of so many lives lost and taken by those who are supposed to enforce the law rather than exercise a licence to kill!

Since May 25th, extraordinary times have been experienced. A solidarity of humankind has resulted, and the injustices of racial equality continue to be debated, discussed and decided upon. In America, ground-breaking legislation has been realised at state level and even historic reparations and financial compensation afforded for African American is now being seriously discussed. 

The House of Representatives could hear a Slavery Reparations Bill for black Americans this summer. Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden wants to see studies about feasibility of Slavery reparations. New York City – one of the most diverse cities in the world has approved reparations for black Americans in an historic vote. 

Black Lives Matter global leaders are all excited at the prospect commenting: “It feels like there is actually change happening now”. Global American billionaire, Robert Smith has also called for a 2% solution to the corporate and structural racism that exists in America. Smith has also called for a regenerative, restorative and reparatory capital investment to be made by all American and global corporates in order to see a new eco-system with the black dollar playing its part in the overall geo-political economics. Another major consideration is that educational bursaries could be afforded to African American students and existing student debt wiped clean! He has argued that this would also address the lack of diversity at all levels of corporate American and beyond.

But what about Britain? Announcements last week by the Government of the controversial appointment of Dr Tony Sewell to head up the Government’s Commission looking into Covid-19 and the BAME issues that equally reflect BLM. With a ground swell of protest with what many feel is a ‘token appointment’ and without a peer of the realm, this commission is already been seen as a token appeasement of platitudes with no real ‘bite’ that will ever see its findings taken seriously.

In Bristol, a Black Lives Matter statue was placed on the plinth, which once saw slavery owner Edward Colston once celebrated. In 2015, Britain only finally paid compensation to the old British aristocracy families of wealth in order for slavery to be brought to an end in this country. Can it be right, proper, fair or just? In 2018 the University of Glasgow made a landmark decision acknowledging the proceeds of the slave ownership and aristocracy of the time and the contributions that were made in establishing this fine institution. They not only acknowledged this fact but made financial restitution with future projects and programmes being developed in partnership with fine institutions in the West Indies.

Sir Hilary Beckles, the Vice Chancellor of the University of the West Indies has been a long-time advocate of the reparation campaign. In my time as the Chair of the University of East London, I presented to all of the Universities South of the Boarder as to whether a similar consideration could be made. Its student supplementary grants ended with no prospect of seeing students already facing financial hardship in their student life experience, hopping on and off the DLR surviving on one meal a day or even selling drugs to maintain their student life existence. Much publicity was afforded to my wish to see an initial ￡100 million fund result from the red brick institutions in the interim. Intentions to discuss by the powerful Vice Chancellor’s forum with potential solutions with considerations were made. I was told that I had “trodden on toes”. Some months later, I was to be removed as Chair.

Since that time, I have reflected deeply on my attempts to see students of colour that graduate and migrate to a career that should see them eminently employable as a reflection as 3.5% that, not by inclusion, but by social, cultural and economic embedment contribute to their improved career and entrepreneurial aspirations and contribute positively to themselves, their families and communities with a cycle of dreams that become the nightmare of day to day existence that could be improved.

They say that where America is today, Britain surely follows and as the country faces its conscience with drama series and debates, looking at our George Floyd moment, the Stephen Lawrence murder enquiry and Macpherson Report, the programme asked, ‘Have things changed?’. Sadly, they have not. Hopefully, a simple response of excuse of stop and search resulting from the violence of black on black crime will lead to one of the greatest crimes against black lives of the Diaspora and the brutality and profiteering of slavery can be used with reparation through the form of similar measures to that being taken in the States see improved quality of life of not only black lives, but all lives.

“We have got to look at the difference between changing symbols and changing systems and as a result, improve lives.”  Raymond Winbush – author of ‘Should America pay?’