The reparations debate

Guests: Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor, Adolph Reed Jr.

Should the descendants of slaves be paid reparations by the federal government? Proponents of this idea say that the effects of slavery are still relevant  today, and that the American government should provide some form of additional support to offset these disadvantages. Opponents either balk at the idea that slavery still affects African-American communities, or see the concept as an impractical political non-starter. The Democratic candidates for president are weighing in, many of whom have expressed interest in considering the idea. Today on the show, we’ll talk about reparations and the politics around them with Princeton assistant professor of African American studies KEEANGA-YAMAHTTA TAYLOR, and ADOLPH REED Jr., professor of political science and economics at the University of Pennsylvania.