Responsibility is to be accountable for something that is within your own power. This definition does not provide a timestamp for which responsibility ceases to exist or expire. Reparations should be no different as slavery was a driving factor for the United State’s economy during the 18th century to the beginning of the Civil War that would fuel global industrialization. The fruits of this labor is still seen today as America is one of if not the emblem, of economic power and trade. This is also thanks to as Coates mentioned, to many deals that we have made and still keep even though all participants involved are deceased. While we may not be able to compensate those who lost their lives, the responsibility does shift. Generations before us have ignored this call for justice but reparations in some form is due. We may see this problem as distant as we are not at fault, but to see the disparity between black people and other races would hold the humanity within ourselves accountable. Hence, yes, you can be responsible for something that isn’t directly your fault.
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Well said. I agree with you when you say that even though we ourselves, me and you, aren’t directly responsible for the atrocities that took place back then, the rest of mankind as a whole is in part to be blamed for allowing such things to happen, to a certain extent of course.