The Case for Reparations

by Ta-Nehisi Coates

Genres: Nonfiction, Race, History, Social Justice, Politics, Essays, Anti Racist

55 pages, Unknown Binding

Published June 1, 2014

About the author

Ta-Nehisi Coates is the author of the #1 New York Times bestseller Between the World and Me, a finalist for the National Book Award. A MacArthur "Genius Grant" fellow, Coates has received the National Magazine Award, the Hillman Prize for Opinion and Analysis Journalism, and the George Polk Award for his Atlantic cover story "The Case for Reparations." He lives in New York with his wife and son.

Reviews

[catherine ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ta-Nehisi Coates never fails to deliver. This was a great combo of facts and emotions — and should honestly be high school required reading.

[Kassie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Had to read this for class this week and I opted to listen to it as an audiobook (on Soundcloud) and it gave a really interesting and thorough history about reparations in this country. Also discussed a lot of Chicago’s history which I didn’t know a lot about, and just made me realize even more (I already know) that generational wealth is not something Black folks can just whip up. The systems that are in place are that way for a reason, and it benefits exactly who it needs to while continuing to oppress everyone else.

I don’t know if I’ll ever see reparations doled out in my lifetime but I do hope it happens. How can we ever be repaid?!

[HG · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very informative. Can be found online on The Atlantic.

[Jon Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s time. Correction: it’s been time.

[Minnie]

Should be required high school reading

[Aneesa · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Some black people always will be twice as good. But they generally find white predation to be thrice as fast."

[Ruth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Long-writ piece by Coates for The Atlantic. This is necessary reading for all Americans-- flagging it on GR for my own future reference.

https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/...

[Curious · Rating 5 out of 5]

Essential reading

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

When reparations is discussed, there's always that one person who will say "but what about the people who are currently living there? Where will they go?" First of all, if you don't want to give black people the land that was stolen, give us our money plus interest. That point is usually met with resistance. "Where's the money going to come from?", they'll cry. Well the second option if you're so concerned about resources and having to pay reparations to black people (because that's what it comes down to if we're being honest), then seize the property. "But it was so long ago, it's not going to really make a difference."

The reality is that a lot of white people are against reparations because the thought of black people getting something "for free" at the expense of white people is an affront to them. When you think about it, it's very ironic. The property white people now own was bought and paid for by a black person. That property was taken by a white person usually through nefarious means. And yet, the idea of returning property to its owners years after the thievery took place is problematic for a lot of people.

“When I found myself caught up in it, I said, ‘How? I just left this mess. I just left no laws. And no regard. And then I come here and get cheated wide open.’ I would probably want to do some harm to some people, you know, if I had been violent like some of us." - Clyde Ross

The quote that "white people are lucky that black people want justice and not vengeance comes to mind." Mississippi was blatantly racist to the point where you were openly a second class or even third class citizen. The northern states like Chicago enticed black people under the guise of a better life only to do them dirty in an underhanded way.

The way that scamming black people who wanted to buy homes was institutionalized makes me sick.

"The essence of American racism is disrespect." Coates summed up racism in a way that I never

"Imagine yourself as a young black child watching your elders play by all the rules only to have their possessions tossed out in the street and to have their most sacred possession—their home—taken from them."

This is why intergenerational trauma is real. People may claim that slavery, the Jim Crow era etc were both "so long ago" (it wasn't) but the repercussions of the effects that racism had and still had on black people of today and those to come is real.

"What I’m talking about is more than recompense for past injustices—more than a handout, a payoff, hush money, or a reluctant bribe. What I’m talking about is a national reckoning that would lead to spiritual renewal. Reparations would mean the end of scarfing hot dogs on the Fourth of July while denying the facts of our heritage. Reparations would mean the end of yelling “patriotism” while waving a Confederate flag."

In essence, Ta-Nehisi Coates makes it very clear that reparations is the beginning. It's more than just money, a return of stolen property. It's full recognition of what was done to black people in America but all over the world. It's taken responsibility for the lives lost, the pain inflicted, the scars left. It means no longer whitewashed history and pretending that America is post-racial.

[elle · Rating 4 out of 5]

We believe white dominance to be a fact of the inert past, a delinquent debt that can be made to disappear if only we don’t look.

I love it when essays yield figures and data, and this one has some gorgeously incisive writing on top of it. I really enjoyed the focus on the local history of Chicago / details of the US housing market as a cornerstone to build a much broader argument — because the focus on economics and everyday living helps construct thoroughly solid talking points, and because even people who are familiar with most of the other historical & social justice talking points that Coates brings up probably will find that they still have a lot to learn. (It's me, I'm people)

This is nearly a decade old and I'm very, very curious how many of the population figures Coates quotes have shifted in that time — and in which direction.

[Tom Walsh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Coates makes a powerful case for the impact of the Historical Reality of Slavery in the United States and the horrific effects of Jim Crow legislation during the Reconstruction Era on African-Americans. No one can honestly reject his conclusions.

Unfortunately, while he acknowledges the trillions that Reparations would require, he doesn’t address how they could be fairly legislated, enacted, and implemented in this book. Effective legislation against Redlining would be an obvious place to start but I can’t imagine this being achieved without a Firestorm of opposition from all sides, tearing the Country apart. The Societal, Political, and Financial impact of these laws would be unimaginable.

But, as I said, Coates does not take on that part of the issue in this book, so I have to give it Four Stars for his well-researched and delivered justification. ****

[Bryce Hodge · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the single greatest article at articulating the history that led to African-Americans current socioeconomic standing in America. While I certainly believe that everyone should read this article, this article is essential reading for every African-American, both for personal knowledge and for the ability it provides to call out the misinformed rhetoric that is spread about Black Americans on a daily basis. 20/10, it truly deserves 6 stars.

[Amal Omer · Rating 5 out of 5]

read in high school and needed a refresher. dang points were made. coates is so good at taking us through big history moments in a way that’s not overwhelming. he makes things so clear 10/10

[Maxwell Sprigg-Dudley · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I first read this in high school, it reshaped the way I think about race in America. It was great rereading as a follow-up to the MLK book. This goes on my list of works I think everyone should read.

[Joobsy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Important and explicit delineation of white poverty and black poverty while highlighting the ignorance of policies not seriously considering the racist roots of America to create a truly “equitable” state.

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars.

I opted to listen to this long-form article written for the Atlantic in 2014. Knowing that the content would be heavy and my attention span is lacking on the best of days, I think I made the right choice.

I have heard this article and argument mentioned (mostly negatively) over the years, but I had never taken thee time to dig into it myself.

As part of my anti-racist work, I've decided to really put in the work to understand the history and the arguments that have been made over time with regard to Reparations and all of the poison deeply rooted in the American system.

I'm truly horrified and gutted that I have been so utterly ignorant - and that my privilege allowed me to have close to NO IDEA how insipid and profligate the racist policies and traditions of our basic systems have led us to where we are today.

An impressive argument.

[Claire McN · Rating 5 out of 5]

Should be required reading for all.

[Noah Eigenfeld · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yeah, this needs to be taught in schools

[Rhonda · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read.

[Luke Stevens · Rating 3 out of 5]

Remember this being quite a compelling read

[Sarah J · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is actually a work of art. I loved how he was able to weave together stories and statistics so that the numbers had actual weight to them. I really loved how he was able to fully argue his idea: reparations aren't just about the money, its about noticing and confronting the disturbing past of America and our wrong doings rather than just gloss over them. Coates even uses Germany and Japan as examples of how much reparations could've done for this country, and that it is never too late to do so. Coates also repeatedly provides examples of how, no matter what Black people do, they are pushed back down by systemic injustice. It forces you to confront the reality of what’s happening around us. Honestly, I had never really considered why NYC seemed so segregated into different communities, but now I understand that it is the result of systemic policies that have been in place for generations. I also found it very interesting that Coates decided to share Ross's story. I think part of the reason he did so was to illustrate that even someone who did everything "right" was still deeply affected by these injustices. Yes, Ross was able to buy a house, but it came at an enormous cost. He had to pull his kids out of private school, work three jobs, and sacrifice the time he wished to spend with his children, such as helping with their homework, and more just to keep his house. By sharing Ross’s story, Coates highlights that even the rare few who managed to achieve homeownership—those who "beat the odds"—were still severely impacted by systemic racism. In showing how much struggle existed even at the so-called top, he exposes just how devastating the reality was for everyone else. I honestly think everyone in a major metropolitan area needs to read this article because it just opens your eyes to the hostile architecture and how the system has been working this whole time. And I say working because it was a compelling idea brought up in APENG. The system was built to segregate people, it was built to continuously keep black people at the bottom, to make sure that they couldn't rise. If anything, what is currently happening is just evidence that the system our ancestors built is working. This also leads me to what Coates was arguing as well, that our nation was built on these ideals that favor one type of people. Theres so much to discuss but I really enjoyed how well he was able to articulate and back up his ideas.

[Alyssa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m truly astonished by how many hard hitting truths this essay came to capture. An easily accessed online PDF, (free!!!) ((everyone read it!!!)), this was one of the best condensations of current American History I have read. Truly a “Case for Reparations”, this essay details all the specific and intentional ways black Americans have been harmed leading back to before the founding of this country. Please go read this because it articulated these arguments in such a way as I never could.

One of my favorite quotes, “What I’m talking about is more than recompense for past injustices - … What I’m talking about is a national reckoning that would lead to spiritual renewal. Reparations would mean the end of scarfing hot dogs on the Forth of July while denying the facts of our heritage. Reparations would mean the end of yelling ‘patriotism’ while waving a Confederate flag. Reparations would mean a revolution of the American consciousness, a reconciling of our self-image as the great democratizer with the facts of our history.” (Coates).

From slavery itself, to on contract housing, to redlining the housing markets, to segregating where people live, terrorism against new black peoples in the community, and up to the argument for reparations, this details it all. Every reason why America is the way it is. Reparations would mean America looking inward and coming to terms with the back breaking labor and harm that has been put into the foundations of this country. More than inequality, it’s intentionally and pervasively keeping black people out of spaces based on white supremacy. And this has never been acknowledged in the current history of this country- intentionally. Not for lack of trying. To do so would be to tear apart at the seams the foundation of this country- but it NEEDS to be done.

[Brian · Rating 5 out of 5]

"And so we must imagine a new country. Reparations—by which I mean the full acceptance of our collective biography and its consequences—is the price we must pay to see ourselves squarely. The recovering alcoholic may well have to live with his illness for the rest of his life. But at least he is not living a drunken lie. Reparations beckons us to reject the intoxication of hubris and see America as it is—the work of fallible humans.

"Won’t reparations divide us? Not any more than we are already divided. The wealth gap merely puts a number on something we feel but cannot say—that American prosperity was ill-gotten and selective in its distribution. What is needed is an airing of family secrets, a settling with old ghosts. What is needed is a healing of the American psyche and the banishment of white guilt.

"What I’m talking about is more than recompense for past injustices—more than a handout, a payoff, hush money, or a reluctant bribe. What I’m talking about is a national reckoning that would lead to spiritual renewal. Reparations would mean the end of scarfing hot dogs on the Fourth of July while denying the facts of our heritage. Reparations would mean the end of yelling “patriotism” while waving a Confederate flag. Reparations would mean a revolution of the American consciousness, a reconciling of our self-image as the great democratizer with the facts of our history."

[Rob Kramer · Rating 5 out of 5]

A rare essay read for me but I’ve had it on my list since reading Ta-Nehisi Coates’ first novel, Between the World and Me. The Case for Reparations is what shot Coates to fame and reignited the talk on reparations amongst academics albeit nine years later, it still has not taken off with in Congress or the general public. That is not to say Coates does not make an effective argument as he draws from the history of exploited labor that was slavery to the conman ship allowed in redlined districts with contract home owners preying on white flight and vulnerable African Americans with inherit lesser savings. He lays out how the end of slavery did not mark the end of violence and exploitation against black people and how the country’s ideals of democracy are even built around it. He implores that if even just reparation research was given serious backing, America might not have just a financial exoneration but more importantly a cultural exoneration much like Germany has undergone to a degree since the Holocaust. Overall, this made for a great inspection into our country’s relation with race and cost and how we can see the case for reparations.

[Dalilah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excerpt from my ENGL 1101 Reflection Essay:

“I believe what Coates is trying to say is that America has failed its African American population, and that it is far too late to attempt to fix it. “Poor” neighborhoods being synonymous with “Black Neighborhoods” is so ingrained in American culture that it is near impossible to erase. White supremacy and white nationalism is the foundation of America, after all. America was built with the white man in mind, not the black man. I find myself agreeing with Coates. America has failed its African American people time and time again. Police brutality is still prevalent, as was the case with George Floyd and Breonna Taylor in 2020. Marcellus Williams was murdered by the state of Missouri September 24 2024 despite the people begging their governor otherwise. African Americans are still being lynched today. America has failed its people time and time again, and I fear it might not change for a good while.”

[Lo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like this because it really is a case for reparations -- and it's a solid one. Coates illuminates the histories of anti-Blackness in the U.S. and the systems that formally ended less than a century ago but have extensive reach into present-day; from Jim Crow laws, to redlining and housing discrimination, to exclusion from the social programs of the New Deal. This is a foundational work in reparations literature and a must-read for anyone interested in uplifting Black lives.

While reparations should be the obligation of our governments, it's likely not going to happen. As you enjoy your day off on the Juneteenth (a corporate gesture, if anything), consider donating even $10-20 to a Black organization. If everyone donated as much, there might be much greater movement in the civil rights sphere.

[Drew · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this based on the excellent introduction by David Runciman on the Past, Present, Future podcast. The argument that Coates makes is a cogent and convincing one in my opinion, and the evidence that he assembles and orchestrates to underline this is both revelatory and horrifying.
Before reading this essay I would have been quite hesitant to venture an opinion on the question of reparations; Coates provides a powerful line of argumentation that has contributed significantly to the ongoing discussion in the USA. I can only hope that his side of the argument prevails in asking that America recognises, and rights the wrongs of its history, in order to move forward together on a stronger and more equal basis.

[Jane Barber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Atlantic magazine. A must read. I read this when it first came out and 6+ years later, just listened to the podcast version on the Atlantic website. Coates clearly and methodically lays out his conclusive reasoning for reparations by relating the history of escalating white wealth and middle class security, successes made possible by keeping down African Americans. It is so important, clear, impossible to argue. Once heard, one cannot un-hear. Should be required reading.

[Laura Freeland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic piece. I have wanted to read the article for years and finally read it. He makes a compelling argument that we should pass HR Bill 40 to simply study and develop reparations proposals. He acknowledges that how to do reparations will be difficult but the first step is to study it. I also like the fact he bases it on the discriminatory actions of the federal government in the 40s and 50s.

If you like this article, you should also read The Color of Law.

[Mahith Edula · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read definitely changed my mind on a few things.

Doesn’t make the strongest case for why or what kind of reparations would help alleviate the racial disparity. But makes a strong argument for how reparations can spiritually heal our country from the sins of our past (and present).

I was one who believed in universal class policies to help alleviate poverty. While I still do, I now see the value in some form of reparations for black communities.