I do think that reparations should have been paid a long time ago not just for the pure sake of another black saying give me free money.
But at the time I believe the idea of the 40 acres was meant to create economic equality. Socio Economic status has always been a determining factor for prosperity. With out that newly freed black were in the lowest class by default.
While I do think something should be done now, but I think it should be in the form of a free collage education, since that is the more determining factor now than land.This isn't fair in the sense that blacks are more deserving of a education, but I do believe that within any poor community, education is the key to systemic change. And the reality is; yes there hasn't really been an equal America, there is a disproportionate amount of wealth, and there is a disproportionate amount of crime done to and done by blacks. Education is the most successful way that I can think of to rectify the situation with the most amount of gain for more people.
Look, poor blacks have the same education opportunites as poor whites, hispanics, asians, etc... And for the most part it is a free education. If you look at the drop out rates of blacks compared to whites, you wil find that blacks drop out rates are higher than whites with hispanic drop out rates being even greater. Now the liberals and the minorities want you to believe it's societies fault. But I think that's just a lame excuse. We owe black Americans nothing, slavery is over and has been for quite some time. They need to get over it and move on.
You can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink. The same can be said for education, you can send kids to school but you can't make them learn. Personal responsibility needs to be applied to all individuals and blaming others for your actions is ignorant and utterly stupid.
Blacks born into the Ghetto Communities here in NYC, get help, it gives them a chance. Overcoming the cultural influences and effects of drugs, alcohol, prostitution, gangs, is harder for some, especially when immediate family is caught up in any of it. The housing projects have caused allot of pain.