I presume that all talks of slavery reparations are for the purpose of (1) visibility – “I’d like to be seen on a talk show discussing something”; (2) politics – “My constituency likes the idea of reparations”; or (3) virtue signalling – “I care so deeply.” Nothing meaningful will ever happen in terms of cutting checks to individual African Americans because it’s simply too difficult to determine who is owed what and by whom.
Related, most of my ancestors were serfs in Western Europe for centuries. Serfs, while generally not treated as harshly as american slaves, were tied to the land, and bought and sold with such land. They generally had some modest amount of that land and their time – ~15% was typical – that was for their own private use (Why thank you, Mr. Duke!). The rest was owned by the Lord of the manor. So, basically, 85% slaves… better than 100%, that’s for sure, but still. Anyhow, I’m still waiting for a check from the aristocracies of Western Europe for the value of all of that free labor over the centuries (compounded to reflect inflation, of course).
To the victors – often also slaveholders and serfholders – went the spoils. Such is life.
