Yeah, I don't think the white people who are inclined to use this are the same people who need to be woke.

Karyn Schwartz of Sugar Pill, an apothecary on Capitol Hill, can provide "herbal & natural well-being consultations, classes/workshops for groups on natural strategies for stress management, and free flower essence formulas for additional support."

LOL.

It's the racial version of buying carbon credits to reduce emissions guilt.

Can I deduct the value of my voluntary reparations gift from my taxes when the fedeal government finally begins giving minorities their 40 acres and a mule? Because I'd like to think this should count toward that.

Rich,
Hmm? I am from the school of thought that says "one can ask anyone for anything". It's just a question after all. But, there are two issues with this FB effort of Ms. Marin's.

First of all, I'm greatly uncomfortable with the 'racial identifying' component of the site. Ostensibly "Reparations' could be interpreted as "white people giving to black people, descendants of slaves their recompense for centuries of the latter's forced servitude or worse". Obviously, "white" and "black" are malleable terms. There's been so much "mixing" of the races over the centuries.

Secondly just as disturbing, is the conclusion that people of color are "economically challenged". That seeking out economic or other assistance from "whites" could actually enhance racist stereotypes.

Yeah, I get it. It's an art project. And people under the law, can give whatever they want. It can provide, goods, services or cash. But, I do believe there will be elements of malfeasance. At the end of the day, consider this scenario. A person of color could ask you (using FB "Reparations" or not), a white person for say, $100 no strings attached. You decide to give for reason of reparation. If you're perfectly comfortable with that, so be it. The opposite of that (not giving) is fine as well. I just don't think the former, giving as constructive. After all "Give a man a fish, you feed him for a day. Teach a man to (raise) fish, he feeds his family for a week". It's the difference between relief and development.

Website, book, and on the ground sign-holding was done years ago by a Portland artist. She read at Elliott Bay Book Co. This artist must already have known.I'll have to find her name.

it's provocative, but it also seems like it trivializes the concept of reparations.

if the idea is to lift African Americans out of generational poverty, reparations need to be on the order of 10s of 1000s of dollars per year from birth. like a guaranteed income, not a one-time gift.

that can only come from the feds.

Damali Ayo. Different for sure than this Facebook group; more intelligently and thoughtfully done.

http://www.opb.org/news/article/performa…

Just for clarification- the woman who started this is a Canadian immigrant, right?

I should clarify- she moved here from Canada. Were her ancestors slaves in the US? It doesn't sound like it.

Can someone provide a link to the FB group? Thanks.

I was warned not to read the comments because people who comment rather than actually DOING SOMETHING WITH THEIR LIVES are often of a certain ilk. I should've followed the warning. To all ye trolly trolls: I also happen to be American, which means that I'm hardly afraid of your opinions of me. You see how I did that? I highly recommend BOOK READING for anyone who has questions about the Transatlantic Slave Trade. Also for those who asked:

Facebook Event Page Link: https://www.facebook.com/events/30592757…

Another fascinating and thought-provoking item on the list of stupid feel-good bullshit reparations proposals.

i am WAY ahead of you, honey. i patronize black businesses on a regular basis. like the restaurants Emerald City Fish & Chips, Bananas Grill, Safari Njema, Altaye, Kokeb, and Ezell's, and also the best corner shop in Seattle, King's Deli.

#3 you obviously don't know shit about the market mechanism behind carbon credits.

#4 save your receipts and maybe they'll consider it. like, we all knew you were gonna donate your life savings after all. Thx bruh.

#5 you obviously didn't look at the site because many people are offering lessons and trainings.

#7 it's not trivializing anything. how do you know people involved aren't actively fighting for actual reparations legislation? you don't.

#9 & 10 could be. why does it matter to you?

#13 keep working hard at your awesome reparations proposals, you freedom fighter you!

Liberal cuckholds, assuage your white guilt by giving me free shi- I mean reparations!

@15: you're right: I don't know whether they are actively fighting for reparations, and I didn't say they weren't or shouldn't be. I'm saying a six pack or yoga lessons isn't going to cut it. I support serious, long-term reparations that will run in the billions of dollars per annum.

so, are they? you seem to know.

Max, I don't think anyone's trying to conflate this effort with an actual effort for government reparations for slavery.

@15: You want some better ideas? I'll rattle off my usual laundry list:
-subsidize daycare for poor families
-provide tax incentives for grocery stores to move into food deserts
-drastically increase funding for boys' and girls' clubs, community centers, and similar
-provide funding for after-school tutoring programs in schools serving disadvantaged neighborhoods
-increase scholarships for students who are first in their families to attend college

I've got some others, but that's the core of it: economic support to help lift the downtrodden out of generational poverty. If we're going to throw money at the problem, let's be smart about it.

sd

If Natasha can blame whites who were not alive during slavery can she be blamed for the 8 cops killed in Dallas and Baton Rouge? Apparently her premise is to punish people even if they were not involved. The cops are dead. The killers black. Will Natasha pay the officers' families?

So much is subsidized already, and it comes out of the pockets of the middle class. I don't have white guilt. I have middle class rage, though. I am all for helping community members, regardless of race, if I can. Just ask. It isn't because I feel that I should owe someone because I happen to be born white. It is because I have a sense of civic accountability. However, this is digital begging wrapped in assumed and "because I say you should have it" forced guilt and it doesn't sit right. Mutual respect, love, neighborhood comradery , sure, but attempted emotional extortion? Nope.

@23,
Excellent points.

A Sane Black Man once said... "If Natasha can blame whites who were not alive during slavery can she be blamed for the 8 cops killed in Dallas and Baton Rouge? Apparently her premise is to punish people even if they were not involved. The cops are dead. The killers black. Will Natasha pay the officers' families?" It doesn't get any clearer than that!!!