Reparations: In Defense of Our Legacy

Some would say, "what does immigration have to do with Reparations?"

Good question. Answer: one should have nothing to do with the other. But, those debating the issue want to drag us into it.

Why is it that I hear people comparing the immigration debate to the Civil Rights Movement. Some Illegal Alien activist had the audacity to say they are preparing for their Selma and their Montgomery!

I say, if they want to prepare for such a struggle go right ahead. But, there is nothing that will happen to them that can be compared to the Civil Rights Movement. When they had their demonstrations a few weeks ago, there was no fire department hosing them down; no police dogs attacked them; and, while bigots probably were visible, no one was lynched, tarred and feathered or otherwise abused.

I say to those organizing for the rights of Illegal Aliens: "DO NOT compare this to the Civil Rights Movement!" And, "hands off our legacy!" The blood, sweat and tears that our ancestors laid out for our rights must not be mocked. Are you saying that African people came to this Country illegally? (We might have been brought here illegally...no wait - we were brought here legally, just immorally!) Are you saying that the struggles of those who were brought here as cattle compare to those who willingly come to this Country? Do the hardships of a life that we didn't seek compare to the hardships faced by those looking for them?

There is no comparison to be made here. The Civil Rights Movement is off limits for you. Please, this is not about racism or bigotry. This is about Reparations and defending our legacy.

For someone to draw comparison between the two struggles either shows a lack of respect for our struggle, or an ignorance of our struggle. I believe that the Negro voice is the only valid voice on this debate - well, maybe us and the Native American. America is a land of immigrants (except again for the Natives), and only the Negro came here not seeking freedom and opportunity. We did not come to America seeking a better way of life. Nor were we seeking to escape the tyranny of our homeland. We were brought here to build freedom and opportunity for others.

But, I am not about to say that we would have been better off in Africa - having never been brought to America, for all is under the providence of a Loving God. I say to our brothers in humankind what Joseph said to his brothers, "As far as I am concerned, God turned into good what you meant for evil. He brought me to the high position I have today so I could save the lives of many people."

So in that spirit, I submit the key to solving the immigration problem - it is a problem. The key is our foreign policy. The vast majority comes to America - legally and illegally - in pursuit of a better life; this is the same reason that most Europeans came to this Country. As President Bush said, the risk their lives in pursuit of wages that Americans wouldn't (frankly shouldn't) accept.

But, why do they flock to this Country? Certainly it's not to get a rise out of Americans. They come to this Country because of their poverty. And, the road to prosperity leads to America. We should be humbled by what God has given us. As it is written, to whom much is given much shall be required. It is not for us to hoard the blessings we've received, but to share them with our neighbors.

No one's saying to give them a hand-out, hooking the entire hemisphere on that dependency-building drug: welfare. But, we ought to work with these countries to truly develop their own plan for prosperity - the same opportunity for prosperity afforded to Americans. So long as people believe that only Americans are endowed with inalienable rights, people will flock our borders to become American.

Now, please leave our struggle out of your debate! Don't disturb my focus...the focus is Reparations: defending our hard won legacy from being watered down by trifles, which could be solved rather easily. Reparations will not allow Negroes to be a springboard for everyone to step on us on their way to inclusion. Reparations dictates that we provide others with solutions for their problems while protecting the integrity of our situation - believing always in the Brotherhood of man and the Fatherhood of God. Everyone could use some Reparations - come and get yours!