If you prevent enough people from competing I could get drafted into the NFL in the first round. Blacks were prevented from competing and building wealth on all levels. Blacks were prevented from building wealth for generation after generation.

I love this guy, he is very well articulated a critical point in American racism. I wish I could have an hour long conversation with him about just this very subject. I'm white and I feel like I could never understand what it's like to grow up in any first world country, let alone the United States as a black man. I think he's absolutely right, that we, all of us need to come to terms with the current racism in our country and the oppressions that so long gripped us. It's great that we made progress but it took us far too long, and because it did, like he said it's still evident not only in policy, but in social discourse. Listening to this man talk about these things, well before whenever anyone would talk about racism. I'm ashamed to admit, but I would feel defensive as if it were my fault that things were how they were. And it isn't, but that doesn't mean that I don't feel have a responsibility or an obligation to not only my fellow Americans Africans but to all my fellow Americans to try and make amends.

Those with such negative comments, personally I hate generalizations, "White's", This..."Black's" That careful people your ignorance is showing.... What about "Right" or "Wrong" yes that affects everyone !!!

give the black community free college education for a generation. give a man a fish and feed him for a day, teach a man to fish and feed him for a life time.

What a wonder black speaker, yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Greatly exuberant and eloquent!

Great video and such an important issue.

I watch Moyers weekly because there are some interesting relevant topics on the show. This particular show was excellent and I sent it to my children to make sure they stay informed. It is imperative that parents educate their kids about America because this is not what the schools are doing. I would suggest reading the article on the Atlantic magazine.

WE DONT TALK ABOUT THEM GIVING UP THE MONEY TO RECTIFY RACISM. OUR GR. GR. GRANDPARENTS FOUGHT & WORKED HARD FOR EVERYTHING THEY MADE. AND WEREN'T PAID FAIR WAGES. SOMETIMES THEY WEREN'T PAID AT ALL.

slavery was a world wide institution for 10,000+ years and africa was the walmart of slavery. Here is your logic: hypothetically, if walmart sold hard core child pornography you would excuse walmart for making money off of it, you would excuse the guys filming the minors, you would excuse the guys recruiting(kidnapping) the kids to film, and you would want the guy buying it AND ANYONE ELSE FROM HIS RACE to pay other kids who were never even in the films. This is an example of black people LITERALLY asking for a handout.

We already taught them to read and write ✍️ they should be grateful

they are in Denial.

This is THE REAL discussion about Race and Racism that we are all missing. Please. Watch the video before commenting.

I've felt this way for a long time. The only successful system for government or society is one where people are judged by their skill, and anyone too young to have these skills is each an uncut gem waiting for the right shape.

Don't waste time or energy debating black issues with white racist. Because, when you win the debate with facts, it will not change there racist views.

Absolutely brilliant!

16:58 - What form would reparations take? Not a personal check to every black person. Anti-racist POLICY is the answer.

David Anderson I thought this was an old interview but it's about #thecaseforreparations Man watching this I almost had the feeling that Moyers was passing the torch to Coats. It was like eavesdropping a conversation between two great interviewers and thinkers.

What about Chinese railroad workers

Maybe and just maybe everyone should remember.... "if the pass never happen such as slavery, would the African Americans be better off"

Great read authorized Author (A. Van Jordan)

They were promised 40 acres and a mule.

Facts! Truth hurt just look at the dislikes. One thing about them devils they not hard to notice

I read Coates's The Case for Reparations which he thoughtfully shares in this interview...all of which I found to be compelling, provocative and "on point" as a needed entry point for a critical national discussion to address and heal the wrongs of our collective American past. So many of the ills we face today are a cumulative result of our unjust government policies and cultural practices of the past. Let's unite to do the hard work of acknowlegement and amends so our nation can move forward on a truly equal and free footing.

America is the most diverse country in the world. Other countries scoff at our race issues yet they don't have the diversity to even compare. Integration is morally necessary but doesn't work when the numbers are this high. The more diversity a country has the more uncomfortable the hierarchy gets.

God will step in and yall will pay. God is a God of justice.

create a large inner city fund. Start funding urban communities

Really interesting work. It is mentioned that we've never seen a reparation process, however, I believe in Bolivia that has been done under Evo Morales and, far beyond that, indigenous people have recovered their identity and are now represented and have become active part of society

Although I respect Mr. Coates views, and acknowledge that he is far more educated than myself - I disagree with reparations being owed to "all" Black Americans. True, there are many alive today who lived through the Civil Rights era and may have directly felt the evils of Racism. Perhaps those Black Americans are due some reparations, but not "all" Black Americans. There are many Whites in this country who live in Poverty, so we cannot just point to Blacks who live in Poverty and say "they are owed reparations because they are poor". Many immigrants still come to our land unable to speak english, and are somehow able to climb the economic ladder. No amount of outside help is going to ever be enough if individuals aren't willing to change their own situation. The truth is that there is more "Black on Black crime in this country today" then there is White on Black crime.

There wouldn't be a case to answer for reparations if america was a meritocracy They wouldn't be needed

AS HARD AS WHITE PEOPLE MADE US WORK...DOING 2-3 ETC PEOPLE'S JOBS BUT GET 1/2 PAY OF 1 PERSON. AND NO EMPLOYMENT BENEFITS. AS BLACK AMERICANS WE DONT NEED AN APOLOGY. WE NEED OUR REPARATIONS !!!

Color isn't the problem, racism is the problem and combating racism is the solution to that problem.

Good video hope we get reparation ancients turning in there graves we need it we but this place truth set you free

For future algorithm people coming here: This is the SAME GUY who compared Dr. Jordan Peterson to the comic book villain, Red Skull.

I'll take the check. Money is essential to replace the stolen resources.

But u cant ask the perpetrator. World court is where genocides are charged. They never go to the suspect. The defendant might have a little bias.

To the bigots and the naysayer's, in 1988, President Ronald Reagan signed the Civil Liberties Act of 1988, which provided redress of $20,000 for each surviving Japanese detainee, totaling $1.2 billion. In legalize that's known as an established legal precedent. That $1.2 billion was paid as reparations for the discrimination and internment of Japanese citizens by America. So, what you're saying is, what's good for Japanese American's isn't good for Black America....Understood. No surprise here...same old same

I don't see reparations as something directed to individuals directly, but by working in the spirit of most laws and applying them fairly. HE has a point with the extension. Why do those in power oppose something that could benefit black people. That is racism? If they didn't oppose it, that would be retribution. Treat them equally, right? But why do you have to dig holes so they can step in and fall? What is that? Most laws are fair until people want to circumvent them with the tactics of crooked politics that everybody knows are done to affect the black communities negatively. You knock them done once and a thousand times and them keep walking without looking back.

If you think reparations are just "free cash money", you've probably benefited from multigenerational perks like mortgage write offs, priority education systems, loans to start your business (or your daddys business). A clearing-house that gave out loans to BLACK people (excluding other races yes) to start business at low interest rates would be a great start. Its not about trying to get a hand out, but our systems over multiple generations have kept black people as a group from reaping the benefits of the American dream.

I am an American, I pay taxes, I have never seen, let alone owned a slave. Some of my ancestors owned slaves, some of my ancestors were slaves. What gives you the right to take my money and give it to someone who was never a slave, never knew a slave, and someone I have never wronged?

Reparations in my opinion as an African American, is the one thing that will give me peace and I believe this will largely destroy the issue of race as it is described today. I believe all these issues of white supremacy, white privilege, and every other issue will be put to the side. Trust me I am a bit of a radical when it comes to these things And I have a hardened heart when it comes to alot of racial issues, but this would definately shut me up. And if it would shut me up you bet our bottom dollar that it would shut up the feeling of oppression of millions of African Americans across the country if not the Globe!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

An unacknowledged wound has no chance of being healed. Only two things effect human behavior, sociology and physiology. If you maintain that there are no sociological factors that have contributed to the state of the African American community, define the physiological factors. The only one I can define is multi generational trauma.

Can they pay the 90 year old guy who had to move to Chicago because his land was stolen at least or the people that were fleeced by illegal loans. Those people or at least their kids are still alive.

Who exactly will pay for this ? Everyone???

"You Know"

Speaking about the Jews, it has been established that many of the slave ships were owned by them so they too should be made to forfeit portions of their estates in order to realize this payment of reparations. And as I said in an earlier comment, it is not difficult to locate the ancestors of the former slave owners because their family tree is all enshrined within the archives.

"There are real signs of racial maturing" "That's the kind of progress that you highlight and you brag about if you're not on the other end of it."

Before I read his article, I thought reparations were totally out of the question. It was time to move on cause everyone had slaves, etc. But he really makes a great case for reparations for the American black community. America was built on the blood of slave labor. It's a big black mark on American history, and if not for that, and practically, it wouldn't, the reparations would be to balance the inequality in the U.S. The majority of the "struggle" in urban black communities is no accident.

This comment section makes it hard to think most of you are not descendants of Slave owners. You have the same exact mindset.

It helps if you actually read the article the interview is about, which is about the last century. Many events, Coates addresses took place during my life-time and I remember them.

This government benefited the most that's where the most should come from B1 Family Reparations Now

I'm confused. . . the people who are against this, are arguing that what he's saying is a lie? this stuff is fact-based. . .

If we just made a one time cash payment to every black citizen for reparations, how much should it be?

Wouldn't it be great if we pass money out to black communities around the U.S.? It would be....it's just not practical and I don't know how we could get that accomplished. The argument certainly needs to be on the table. Too many people outright reject it.

very good interview....to say I am relieved but I am not healed....and we actually need to be in a healing process and reparations not only will help our children but it also needs to help those older people who are still here!

Having now read (over past 12 hours) most comments here of past week, i gotta say... the word that HASN'T come up (that should) is "entitlement." (yeah, i said it). it links this discussion with other uniquely American, nacissistic pre-occupations, i.e., gay marriage, school prayer and other (should be) non-issues. yes, certain groups want larger American society to [fill-in-the-blank]. it mostly boils down to, see them as they see themselves and/or mandate equality against the larger society's wishes. indeed, ascribe them special rights (and studies) to assure they are treated equally... when, of course, NOBODY is treated equally in all matters. imho, current declarations of oppression by black people, gay Americans and Christian prayers (not satisfied w/private prayers in school), etc. smacks of attention-getting behavior. Like folks who couldn't sit at the Cool Table in high school, they aren't very savvy, attractive or articulate, but want ALL of America (who mostly ignores them) to acknowledge their special-ness. i'm afraid the net result could be the 'handicapping' of America... you know, weight every group/individual with other groups'/individuals' alleged NEEDS so all will cross finish line together... which is unlikely to produce 'the best' in anybody. that's all from me on this video.

I just want to ask everyone a question when your a Trump supporter everyone calls you racist and white supremacist but when your a black Trump supporter everyone still calls you racist and white supremacist how does that make sense?

I love the hypocrisy. You want to end a system which generalizes an entire group of people, judges them, based on a superficial trait, by generalizing an entire group of people and assigning a judgement (that they are guilty of racism or of at least supporting a system that promoted racism) based on a superficial trait (where you live). You cannot change the past. And you cannot hold someone responsible for something they haven't done. Point to something happening to someone currently and show that they are owed for what is being done to them currently, and I'll support it. Until then, this is just an excuse for a handout. Now what I do support is fixing our economy for everyone, and providing opportunities for all the less fortunate. The wealth inequality in this country is insane, and we absolutely need to do something about that. That's not reparations. That's not trying to make up for past sins. That is identifying current problems and making a current bad situation right.

I'd be willing to give blacks reparations if whites and blacks separated and blacks were given their own country, that way the tension between blacks and whites could be dealt with...Whites could move forward and do what they wanted and Blacks could seek their own destiny while feeling they are free of white influence and power...

Sounds great,but it seems all the intelligence in this country can't seem to get to the point where we can correct ourselves, we seem to have lost that ability, and the sense of accountability, in that part of our character as a country we are still very immature and petty.

Literally says that disproportional benefits to a specific group based on race is a good thing. after claiming to want to end racism. guess he doesn't know the definition of racism.........which is to show preference or discrimination to a person or persons based on their race.

I'm 20 years old and I've never once thought about making a claim for reparations. I work and get along with everyone the best way I can as most of my friends do. I believe this is becoming an older generation idea, for better or worse.

I definitely believe in reparations. 3 of my ancestors fought for the Union in the Civil War. So you're welcome. I'm excited cause I guess the check is in the mail.

Everyone knows this is ALL about the money. EVERY race in America has the equal opportunity to go further than the generation before them, especially with affirmative action which is a reparation in existence for many years now. There are no real divisions between races now. THE ONLY DIVISIONS ARE ONES THAT PEOPLE PURPOSELY WON’T ALLOW TO DIE!!! Why? Because why forgive and forget the past if they can use it to their advantage instead? My own family didn’t arrive from Europe until the early 1900’s, after slavery was abolished. That was my great grandfather’s side. My great grandmother’s side was Native American so I have N. A. blood in me as well as European. They got married once my great grandfather became a citizen of this country. I’m sure my families history is similar to the history of many United States citizens. Our ancestors weren’t even on American soil yet, and as in my case, my great grandmother, as a Native American would have never had slaves. In fact as a Native American she or one of HER ancestors might have been enslaved themselves at some point. I was six years old when she, a widow, died at almost 102 years, still mentally sharp as a tack. She very seldom brought up her past unless one of us as kids asked her specific questions. If reparations are so great, why don’t we go back to the mid and early 1800’s when there were horse thieves and cattle rustlers, stagecoach robbers and cold blooded killers running rampant?! Several of those were black men. Many, black, white and brown, escaped or eluded justice. Should we track down their family members living today and punish them for the sins and the crimes of their forefathers? Those were ALL serious crimes back in the day….horse thievery was treated like cold blooded murder because a man was nothing without his horse. Same with cattle rustling. You were messing with peoples livelihood. If we did demand justice from those that weren’t even alive back then, the cries of “UNFAIR” would be deafening. So WHY is it okay to now reward people for simply existing when they themselves were never slaves, and in fact, their own forefathers may not have been slaves either. They might have even been black slave OWNERS or “Uncle Toms”, blacks who snitched on other blacks in order to gain favor with the slave owners. I think slavery of black people or of any race is evil to the core, and there’s no justification for it, but many don’t realize, OR conveniently forget, that white people have also been oppressed victims of slavery around the world and starting centuries ago. So where does it all end? The first slave owners and sellers were black men in Africa; the slave trade eventually made its way to America. So they can thank Africa for being the first to sell their own race into slavery. Many black slave owners in Africa became filthy rich by selling their OWN race into slavery. Why don’t they demand reparations from Africa? And why do they call themselves ‘African American ‘, even if they weren’t born there, and their ancestors aren’t from Africa, they still treat Africa like their mother country.I don’t call myself ‘European American’ or even ‘Native American’ when I introduce myself, I’m just ‘American’ “African American” is just another term used to divide us. Many have said if they get reparations they’ll go back to Africa with the money. So they’ll take money from America because of slavery of their forefathers, which may or may have been their ancestors experience, but take that money TO Africa, where slavery of black people actually originated?? I think some people are very confused and have lost their way.

Those that are living and suffered being a slave, should be paid by Africa for selling them, END OF STORY.

The way to promote an equal society is not by asking this generation to pay for the mistakes of the past it is to acknowledge and learn from those mistakes so that we can actively work towards a truly equal world. Very sad to see that in 2014, the age of information is still marred by the archaic illusion of race.

country shows progress. this guy "NOT GOOD ENOUGH I WANT MORE STUFF AND BETER TREATMENT!"

There is a link on the side of Christopher Hitchens remarking on the same subject back in 2001. I doubt many of you are more well-read than him, nor are you as illuminated on the subject. I would implore you to set your bias aside for just a second and think clearly on the subject before you jump to conclusions. Thank you.

Look what happened when neighborhoods WERE integrated. Disaster.

Agreed, to address the injury and damage done. But before we ever start the discussion about money, we have to begin discussing and dismantling the corrupt and lazy thinking systems (racial stereotypes) that were designed to make this happen. Or we are just allowing the oppressors to write a check and go back to what they were doing 🤷🏾‍♂️

Cut the Check

I demand reparations for all my fellow white people who have been generationally condemned to extreme poverty in numbers that dwarf the number of poor blacks - both historically and currently. - "white poor outnumber the black poor considerably, 19 million to 7.8 million. White people make up 42 percent of America’s poor, black people about 28 percent. The basic numbers don’t change when we look at people living in extreme poverty, in households making less than 50 percent of the meager poverty line. Of the 20 million people who live at this alarming level of want and deprivation, about 42 percent are white, 27 percent black." - See more at: inequality.org/poverty-matter-black-white/#sthash.ZKEyIswY.dpuf

Why does Bill Moyers act as if he is just learning about this? He sounds like he is from the south and he is old enough to have witnessed these things. Is he part of the problem?

Blaming every thing else but thyself .

The Declaration of Independence was in 1776 , before that time this land was a British Colony. The Thirteenth Amendment (December 1865) formally outlawed the institution throughout the United States. The book this guy is promoting has in it's title "250 years of slavery". Help me out with the math here...isn't that just 89 years? A far cry from the 250 he claims. Can anyone show me a country that realized slavery was wrong and fought a bloody war to end it in less time then 89 years after becoming a new Nation? Slavery ended 149 years ago...I am pretty sure none of the blacks in this country have ever been any more a slave then I am.

Invoice the ancestors that sold you because I'm broke buying the war on poverty.

Bill Moyers has to be most cliche ridden man of all time.

Reparations is not now, nor has it ever been, about remuneration. It has always been about revenge.

Until this is rectified America will always be divided....

The burning bed.

Coates is definitely not the next James Baldwin. I am hearing no depth in what he has to say. I feel no passion or mission in his delivery. He says 'We', James Baldwin did not see his self as part of the 'We'.

One of my ancestors was the largest owner of slaves in Florida under Spanish rule. His wife, also a slave, is another of my ancestors. He owned slaves from Africa. He also owned slaves that were native American, Spanish, French, English, Greek and Muslim. The fact is, less than half of his slaves were actually of African Descent. The problem with the idea of reparations is this; once you decide to institute reparations you have to decide who gets reparations and who has to pay into it. All parties are now deceased. If you make the qualification for receiving reparations based on skin color (the darker the skin the more you get?) then our president, who gets 100% of his African lineage from his father whose ancestors were never held as slaves in America, would qualify. Conversely, I, who am descended from Native American and African Slaves in Florida and am Blonde with blue eyes and have NEVER had the experience of being the victim of anti African Bigotry would qualify for receiving reparations if they were based on proving descent from slaves. As a genealogist I would be in favor of basing said reparations on proving descent from as many slaves as possible. In fact I, and all the other struggling genealogists would become instant millionaires from all the business we would get. My point in this is that no matter what method of qualification the government might come up with, a huge sector of people who deserved to receive funds could never prove they deserve them and a huge number of people who don't deserve it, myself included, would get it. Bottom line is, while it is a nice sentiment, it would be impossible to implement in anything that would resemble fair in any way. A better idea would be for the government to simply put more financial support into institutions that generally support African American progress. I would start by distributing $10 Billion in grant money to public schools in impoverished areas and follow that up with post secondary education and job training. At the other end, anyone who can prove (much easier to do than the above scenario) that they were African Americans living in Jim Crow states while Jim Crow laws were in effect, should get a subsidy upon reaching social security age based on the number of years they lived in a Jim Crow state under Jim Crow laws. Half should be funded from the federal government and half should be funded through the federal taxing of former Jim Crow states.

Excellent.This country needs to do the right thing.

The truth is, there is no case for reparations. None. Give it up.

Pay the money.

For the record there is no such people that ever exist on this earth call negro, black or colored and African American people because people have a nationalty now name the real indenity of those people and then there shall be reparation those people label as such. But the brother is on point with what he's seeking. I say peace to him.

Would love a FAT check... My ancestors worked for HUNDREDS of years for FREE. I found my great-grandfather's/SLAVE MASTER diary/business books. I am facing discrimination at work, am light skin and half asian. Imagine what Black men or dark skin people have to go through...

Complete ambiguity. He is no economist. Hell yeah money....hell yeah cut the check.

I'm black. Give me money.

We have your money. It's all in pennies. You are going to need a big f***in truck.

We would get the check, cause that's what it's about, otherwise what's the point.

This is great but biblical prophecy states that we are not going to stay here. We are going back from where we were scattered. Also we might get these reparations then be gathered together in one place to meet our Yahweh.

If my ancestors profited from owning slaves, and my parents inherited that profit, and then I inherited it, I would feel a moral obligation to return it to someone. (I don’t know to who, but that is another issue). But I did not inherit any such assets. I don’t know if my ancestors owned any slaves, but if they were like almost all other Americans, they lost almost all their assets during the Great Depression (or the severe recessions in the late 1800's). So why look to me as a white taxpayer to pay reparations?

Reparations yesterday today and tomorrow.

Bravo. U can't take it back. But u can make it right. That's normal for a crime. A civil case right? Implying that you're civilized. Maybe not.

Everyone needs to hear this. So spot on. If you can't understand this then your issues are more about missing chromosomes..

There's just no way to make reparations fair or even justified for all involved. How do you justify taking money from a group of whites that have many of their own poor and disadvantaged and show what their " share" of the blame is for something they were not responsible for and neither were any of their ancestors here. Then how do you decide how much which blacks get. If it's about land then the original owners are the native Americans and it's not the white peoples to give, you need to make reparations to them instead. Finally, it was England, not the colonists, who established slavery in America. We have to go back and get reparations from England. The irony is that reparations promised after slavery were stopped by the democrat party of that time,. The Democrats were the KKK back then, and Jim. Crowe laws, and today the vast majority of blacks vote democrat out of habit and loyalty to a party that stopped reparations when it was possible to the actual victims of slavery, and continue to fail to make good on those promises today. Plus democrats have been in charge of all those regions and inner cities that.continue to suffer poverty, violence, and lack of progress.

multi station smoke detector commercial KZfaq video link.

This interview was a little banal. No real insights. No real solutions. And the same complaints about moronic racists that everyone has. Yes, racists of any color are bad. A lot people don't like them. We get it. Seemed he was more interested in throwing around buzzwords like "injuries" (never defined), white supremacy, and reparations for effect than actually talking about what could be done to find real solutions to real problems that real people face. And for reparations not being about money he sure talks a lot about money.

He is FOS!

When slavery was abolished reparations should have been paid. However, blacks at the time had no voice or authority to request; nor did any other race stand in the such a fight. Fast forward to 2016; what is the alternative?