To The Reader’s Forum:

Re: Cal Thomas, March 15, 16, 2025 column

Mr. Thomas’ reaction of the reparations model offered by the Washington, DC city council is understandable. Among the proposals, many flaws, the chief one is that reparations be paid to “individuals”. Such a model is a non-starter because it will never have political or popular support. A workable model should be directed at benefiting individuals as “members of the class” of those aggrieved.

Such a model, rather than “handing out checks”, would create a National Reparations Fund, which would be endowed by mandatory contributions from the Federal and State governments, philanthropic divisions of corporations and philanthropic foundations. The contributions would be a very small percentage of their respective budget and liquid assets.

Why should all states, even those that opposed slavery, or didn’t exist, contribute to the fund? Because our entire country, as it exists today, north and south, ultimately benefited from the labor of slaves. Also, singling out Southern states presents insurmountable barriers and the obvious consequences of resentment. The Civil War is over.

Once funded, the corpus would be managed similarly to any charitable foundation, with grants and or low interest loans, for qualified citizens, to fund education, mortgage loans, small business loans, and the like.

My opinions are based on the proposition that reparations are morally appropriate and unassailably deserved. I’m not interested in igniting further debate on those issues. I am interested in hearing thoughtful comments and suggestions from our community.

Philip A. Cala

Jamestown