Should Current Generations Make Reparation for Slavery?

by Janna Thompson

During the age of empire, European and American colonists perpetrated one of history’s most monstrous slavery. Millions of Africans were subjected to forced abduction, misery and death as part of the brutal Atlantic slave trade. However, since the perpetrators are long dead, should current generations make reparation for this historic injustice?

In this book, Janna Thompson uses three case studies – France’s treatment of Haiti, Britain’s role in the African slave trade, and the plight of African Americans ‒ to address these questions. She makes a nuanced case for the necessity of reparations, but argues that the exact form they take should vary from case to case, depending on factors both principled and practical.

This engaging book is a highly readable introduction to the issues for students and general readers grappling with the complexities of reparative justice and our responsibility for the darkest aspects of our past.

Genres: Nonfiction

140 pages, Paperback

Published July 23, 2018

Reviews

[Nikki · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book definitely taught me some things, but certain arguments didn’t make sense to me or seemed unfounded. The author also didn’t resolve what seems like an important issue to me: which injustices require reparations? She gave three examples -all concerning slavery- but like she herself says in the epilogue: the world is full of injustices.

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Super interesting argument but didn’t find it super engagingly written