This is the recent brainchild of some political activists in Portland. Portland, Or you may recall, is the place that was once called, "where 20 somethings go to retire." But, in reality, in Portland, all things are possible.
The idea was simple. You ask white folks to contribute $10. and then stage a Happy Hour for black folks where they can get together knowing that enough, or maybe some... white people care about recognizing the evils and far-reaching consequences of slavery on the black community to want to do something other than talk about the idea.
Sounds preposterous, sounds amiss, or even ridiculous, yet this is exactly what came about recently in "the city that cares."*
It hasn't been an overwhelming success but these things take time, don't they? We'll see; after all, it is doing something more than just talking about the idea. And...it is an idea that has been around for decades.
One would think that if the U.S. government were really in earnest about some sort of financial compensation for the relatives of those were held in bondage, then something would have been done.
All these years later that Reconstruction proposal of "40 acres and a mule" looks pretty good. But it never happened and don't hold your breath.
As bizarre and inadequate as the reparations happy hour concept is and sounds, one could argue that at least it gets folks talking. And talk not too expensive.
Reparations for something as horrendous and far-reaching as the "peculiar institution" extend far into the trillions of dollars. Then there is all the "it wasn't me or my generation" rhetoric you have to wade through. It's daunting, but what isn't as impossible is a group of folks making a small contribution and extending a drink and a bite to eat to a group of other folks.
I'm still processing this one. bout the only ting, I can say for sure is that Portland, you never disappoint.
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