Biden appointee pushes for $5 million reparations for descendants of enslaved Africans and an end to “continuation of slavery” in the US at a United Nations event. This radical proposal could have significant consequences for America, and sparks a necessary debate on race, justice, and the role of government.
Professor Justin Hansford, appointed by President Biden to the UN Permanent Forum on People of African Descent (PFAD), recently demanded reparations for every Black American descendant of slavery and an end to what he describes as the “continuation of slavery” in the United States. The theme of the second session held at UN headquarters was focused on promoting and protecting the human rights of people of African descent, a subject that has come to the forefront of political debates in recent years.
During his opening remarks, Hansford argued that the current legal framework, largely shaped by white scholars and lawyers from the past, may not sufficiently address the need for justice for people of African descent. He believes it is time to create a new community of legal thinkers that includes everyone who is passionate about justice. With support from fellow academics at the University of Pittsburgh and Columbia University, Hansford advocated for massive $5 million payments to be made specifically to Black Americans.
Emphasizing the importance of moving forward on this issue on their own terms, Hansford called for a “process of apology and reparation” from the countries that have benefited from the legacy of their oppression. He insists the reparations should not be determined or influenced by those countries and should instead be led by the people who have been most impacted by the painful history of slavery and racism.
The US mission to the UN, led by Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield, a Biden administration appointee who is black, does not officially support the proposed reparations. However, Hansford claimed that the diplomats at the mission have been generally supportive of his ideas. Thomas-Greenfield also spoke about her own experiences, having grown up in Louisiana near the infamous “cancer alley,” and called for dismantling structural racism and working toward a cleaner, fairer, and more just world.
In conclusion, the radical proposal from this Biden appointee raises urgent questions about race, justice, and the role of government in redressing historical wrongs. With the issue of reparations gaining momentum, it is crucial to actively engage in these debates and consider the potential implications of such a policy on the nation as a whole.
