“Whatever your opinions on the issue, Should America Pay? is...essential reading.” - Black Issues Book Review
“Compelling....Beyond pro or con...the pieces here are more deeply concerned with having its readers confront their notions of accountability by looking at our collective past and present.” - Publishers Weekly
“This...informed....thoughtful....book thoroughly covers the history, laws and arguments for bringing the issue of reparations to the forefront.” - St. Louis Post-Dispatch
“A comprehensive look at the controversial issue from such angles as the history, law, practical challenges, and global implications.” - The Tennesseean
“This book is simply the best treatment of the reparations movement available in print. Don’t miss it!” - Cornel West
“Dr. Winbush understands the volatile nature of talk about reparations....[his] book will...stir the pot.” - Dallas Morning News
“[A]n extraordinary collection of essays, some of which will engage the others enrage all readers across the political spectrum....[Should America Pay?] will work to mainstream a topic that is sure to figure prominently in the nation’s social agenda.” - Library Journal
“Winbush sheds some much-needed light on what has been considered a fringe issue in American politics...a complete and balanced look at a controversial topic that is gaining attention.” - Booklist
“The most extensive, tightly written and thorough book on the subject. . . .a book everyone should read.” - Nashville City Paper
“An in-depth exploration of the debate from all sides, organized around key topics covering the historical and legal background of the demand and the grassroots organizing that has stoked the fire of this hot topic.” - Ebony
Growing interest in reparations for African Americans has prompted a range of responses, from lawsuits against major corporations and a march in Washington to an anti-reparations ad campaign. As a result, the link between slavery and contemporary race relations is more potent and obvious than ever. Grassroots organizers, lawmakers, and distinguished academics have embraced the idea that reparations should be pursued vigorously in the courts and legislature. But others ask, Who should pay? And could reparations help heal the wounds of the past?
This comprehensive collection -- the only of its kind -- gathers together the seminal essays and key participants in the debate. Pro-reparations essays, including contributions by Congressman John Conyers Jr., Christopher Hitchens, and Professor Molefi Asante, are countered with arguments by Shelby Steele, Armstrong Williams, and John McWhorter, among others. Also featured are important documents, such as the First Congressional Reparations Bill of 1867 and the Dakar Declaration of 2001, as well as a new chapter on the current status and future direction of the movement.
About the Author
Raymond A. Winbush, Ph.D. is the Director of the Institute for Urban Research at Morgan State University. He received his undergraduate degree in psychology from Oakwood College in Alabama and received a fellowship to attend the University of Chicago, where he earned both his master's degree and Ph.D. in psychology. He has taught at Oakwood College, Alabama A&M, Vanderbilt University, and Fisk University. He is the recipient of numerous grants, including one from the Kellogg Foundation to establish a "National Dialogue on Race." He is the author of The Warrior Method: A Parents' Guide to Rearing Healthy Black Boys, the former treasurer and executive board member of the National Council of Black Studies, and is currently on the editorial board of the Journal of Black Studies. He lives in Baltimore, Maryland.
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