1、Order Code RS20740Updated August 27, 2008Proposals for Reparations for AfricanAmericans: A Brief OverviewGarrine P. LaneyAnalyst in Social PolicyDomestic Social Policy DivisionSummaryLegislative proposals that relate to reparations for and racial segregation directedat African Americans include H.R.
2、 40 (Conyers) and H.Res. 194 (Cohen). H.R. 40would create a commission to study the institution of slavery and subsequent racialdiscrimination against African Americans and their impact on living African Americansand to recommend remedies to Congress. H.Res. 194 would apologize for theenslavement of
3、 African Americans and their racial segregation.From the Civil War to the present period, a variety of plans for compensation havebeen proposed. There has been some presidential involvement in the issue,congressional legislation that was either passed or considered, and organized lobbyingby various
4、groups. Lawsuits against private corporations have been filed. Pro and conarguments on reparation payments revolve primarily around the questions of who isaccountable for slavery the individual or society and who benefitted from slaveryand subsequent discrimination against African Americans. This re