The Brown Report

Brown University created the "Steering Committee on Slavery and Justice" and commissioned them to write an in depth report about the legacy and lasting meaning of American Slavery on Brown University, America, and the world at large. Some of the history uncovered was not the most positive for Brown's image. Some of the history was good for Brown's image in retrospect. They were overall straight forward and blunt, and this report was a very respectable move on their part. There is no way I am going to be able to cover everything they did on this blog, so I highly recommend reading it for yourself. The report can be found in its entirety in PDF format here.

Reasons For Doing So
Brown listed several reasons for doing this report, the main reason being the pursuit of truth that all universities claim to aim for. This largely comprehensive report focused on honesty. There have been many cases of selective memory and denial when it comes to discussion on this topic, and Brown wanted to avoid that. They decided to acknowledge and see if there was a way to make amends for a past trespass. They ask how a place that claims to be dedicated to knowledge (university or otherwise) could avoid looking its own past in the face. They also discuss the validity of some forms of reparations for different aspects of slavery.

Denial/Pain
This topic can bring pain to a lot of different groups of people, for various reasons. This cited as the main reason they are the first institute to put forth an effort like this. Some people would rather act like it never happened. Some people feel that it ended, and everyone should let it go. Some people say Barack Obama is President, so everyone should just let it go. One thing is true however, the American Slavery of the past still affects the American Society of today, whether we talk about it in public or not. There are still plenty of race issues in America, none quite as polarized, yet as subtle as a residual white and black tension. Not to say that all there is between the cultures is tension, but just to say that on some levels its still there.

Examples of Acknowledgement
America is however, not the only country with issues. Other countries have made reparations for past injustices. The most notable reparations program was Germany's somewhat hesitant official apology and series of reparations programs to families of victims of the Holocaust. Some people there also would rather forget some aspects of their past, but Germany was under international pressure and scrutiny after World War II. What I find most interesting is that America has given apologies before. Japanese-Americans interned during World War II, native Hawaiians, and victims of the Tuskegee "Bad Blood" experiment have all received at least a Presidential apology. Families of former slaves and indigenous Americans have received no formal apology.

Conclusion
In conclusion, after discussing the effects of slavery, the worlds reactions to similar situations, and the overall philosophy of America, Brown University believes that reparations are in order. However, the reparations do not have to come in the form of direct payments to descendents. Brown stated (& I agree) that the most favorable form of reparations would come in the form of what was most passionately held away from slaves: education. Brown found that slavery and the left-over, never fully dealt with effects of slavery have held African Americans back from receiving a equal education. This was changed in the 1960's legally, but there is a very clear overall gap in the level of education available even today. The process of reparations should address this issue.