Human chattel slavery in the United States Of America lasted for (approximately) 246 years: that is over 6 generations of Individuals. Even after slavery was officially ended, enslaved persons all over the country were omitted from notification, so and many of these persons continued to toil despite having been emancipated in 1863. Furthermore, post-slavery, Jim Crow- and prevailing discriminatory attitudes- delivered an institutionalized 'variety' of racism that presented an unbreachable obstacle to meaningful (collective) black progress and black community economic development. Even today, the vestiges of slavery persist in derailing most black Americans from attaining The American Dream. What is needed is an holisitic approach to development, that is: affirming, progressive, logical, methodical and sustainable. What is needed is A Plan. In conjunction with that, what is needed is an sociopolitical-economic basis, a starting-point, a 'launch pad'. Reparations is that basis. Reparations is that starting-point. Reparations are long overdue, and should be paid in amount of $350,000.00 to $500,000.00 to each 18+ year-old African-American Individual whom can trace his or her family ancestry back to an enslaved antecedent (blood) relative. Those families of persons should be compensated for 6 generations, and a tenth of what they receive as Individuals should be (voluntarily) invested in an (African-American) Community Economic Development Investment Fund. The Fund would be used to create a Community Development Corporation, Natural History Museum(s), Cultural Institute(s), Credit Union(s), Hospital(s), Bank(s), Mutual Fund(s), Revolving Loan Housing Fund(s), First-Time Homeownership Progammes, Real Estate Investment Trust(s), Black Business Development Association(s), Foundation(s), insurance companies, block clubs, nonprofit organizations(s) and Groups, leadership development programmes, schools, workforce development programming, etc. We could easily sustain/maintain these by contributing just $1.00 weekly per Individual, forever. All that is missing, is a(n): Plan, Organizer(s), and Media Commitment to promote and publicize The Plan settled upon.
