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Do you think the US government should pay reparations back to African Americans and Native Americans? The only problem I see with it, is how will the US goverment know that the people being repatriated (Africans Americans) were really the ancestors of slaves. Many Africans/African Americans have recently arrived here from the carribean and Africa after slavery and the Jim Crowe laws were abolished.

Interesting debate. African Americans have recieved some reparations and even less to Native Americans. In terms of Native Americans, they have the highest depression and alcohlism rates in the United States. I think they have had a really tough creating their identiy which was completey lost with the White settlers in America. Their contributions are with casinos nowadays, they own Foxwoods, MoheganSun, these are some of the largest casinos on the East coast. Native Americans currently have a big problem integrating into society, and it is really sad. I definetely think they are owed substantial reparations. White settlers came over and took over everything, and made enormous efforts to eliminate the Native American population with doing such horrible things like infecting their blankets with small pox. It is just as horrible how African slaves were brought on the ships, taken from their homes, forced to stand up in chains, no food, and stricken by diseases. The dead were thrown into the sea. Thousands of people died on the trip from Africa to America, and those who survived were brought into a life of complete subservience, abuse, and racism (which still goes on today). This debate can be extended to the Japanese being brought over to work and put in camps. Also to exploited Mexican labor all over the country.
Does it ever end? Ironic how apparently the United States is a country built upon "freedom for all."
Something to ponder about....

Digressing a bit but here are some interesting facts on minorities in the US:

-Adults Caucasians who have either depression or an anxiety disorder are more likely to receive treatment than adult African Americans with the same disorders even though the disorders occur in both groups at about the same rate, taking into account socioeconomic factors (SGRMH, 1999).

-The rate of illicit drug use is 10.6 percent among Native Americans, 7.7 percent among African Americans, 6.8 percent among Hispanics (all races), 6.6 percent among Caucasians, and 3.2 percent among Asian Americans (SAMHSA, 1999)

-About twice as many African Americans went without health insurance in 1998 and 1999 than did Caucasians (USCB, 1999).

-More than half of all African-Americans and Native Americans are anticipated to use public insurance to pay for inpatient mental health treatment, compared to 34 percent of Caucasians (SAMHSA, 1998).

-Misdiagnosis and inadequate treatment often occurs in minority communities. Factors that can contribute include a general mistrust of medical health professionals, cultural barriers, co-occurring disorders, socioeconomic factors, and primary reliance on family and the religious community during times of distress (NMHA, 2000).