The issue of how to measure and fix the damage that slavery has caused to racial equality is still present today. Both the United States government and many Americans have proposed several ways to pay reparations for past injustices. These range from actual monetary repayment, to museums and historical recognition, and even formal apologies from the government itself. Philosopher Derrick Darby, like many other philosophers, shows that monetary compensation does not seem like an appropriate way forward. Instead, he focuses on the ways to fix inequalities that have been observed to still exist in society, such as with education, employment, and criminal treatment.
I agree that monetary compensation is not a particularly appealing way of paying reparations. There are far too many obstacles to overcome, such as how much should be paid, who should be payed, and who should pay. Considering the length of time that has passed since the abolishment of slavery, these questions would be almost impossible to answer with confidence.
Instead, I agree with Darby that the focus should instead be on fixing the issues that are still present today. For instance, further protections could be added through laws that protect racial minorities from mistreatment in the workplace and from unfair sentencing for crimes. Opportunities for employment and education should be given to disadvantaged groups as a way of promoting progress in society that will ultimately benefit the society as a whole. Regardless of the causes for the inequalities that exist today, opportunities for future success should be a given for anyone.
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