Reparations for Racism: Why the Persistence of Institutional Racism in America Demands More Than Equal Opportunity for Black Citizens

Alexander Lowe

OAI: oai:digitalcommons.ursinus.edu:phil_sum-1003

This essay seeks to expose the causational effects of various forms of distributive justice on wealth inequality within the United States of America. Herein, several frameworks of distributive justice are assessed through John Rawls' reflective equilibrium methodology. Through this assessment, a defense is sought for the need for societal reparation to African Americans. Though this argument is decidedly focused on the struggles of this specific group, the arguments presented may be applicable to other historically and contemporarily oppressed groups, such as LGBTQ individuals and women.

Racism Distributive justice reflective equilibrium reparations Rawls slavery egalitarianism desert-based Black Americans wealth inequality African American Studies Arts and Humanities Inequality and Stratification Philosophy race and ethnicity