The issue of reparations for the effects of slavery and the genocidal policies of white Americans towards Native Americans has been a source of discussion and controversy for decades. Objective empirical studies like the Federal Reserve bank of Boston’s study documenting huge gaps in the wealth of Black and white families in the Boston area clearly support the claim that de facto and de jure racism has been pervasive in our country and that its effects have continued. There is no other logical explanation for these disparities.
The issues of reparations is not only controversial; it is also complex. I have largely avoided thinking deeply about these issues. I have satisfied myself with the idea that I have spent my legal career representing primarily low-income people. In fact over 25 years ago this paper referred to me as “one of the regions most diligent advocates for the poor.” I have continued this work for the last 25 years and have felt that this had “paid my dues” on the reparation question.
I graduated from Georgetown Law School in 1977. I have my framed diploma in my office. Many people have been impressed with my academic pedigree. Around 2018 Georgetown was forced to confront its racist history. In the 1830s Georgetown was the preeminent Jesuit College in North America. Despite this it was in serious financial distress. In order to save the college the Jesuits, who had plantations and slaves in Maryland “liquidated” its holdings and sold its human chattel to the highest bidders and the enslaved people were driven down south. At first the Georgetown administration while acknowledging this horrible episode claimed no ancestors of the sold people could be found.. It turned out hundreds of descendants were alive. Georgetown changed the name of one of its buildings in honor of the name of the first enslaved person on the bill of sale and announced a reparations effort.
Despite the fact that all of my white Anglo-Saxon ancestors hailed from New England and none had any known connection to the slave trade, I felt like my prestigious Georgetown degree provided a direct link between slavery and me. While reparations as a process should be a societal reckoning with the dark chapters of our history this provided an opportunity for direct personal action. I contacted Georgetown’s development office twice by telephone and once by letter. I explained that I was a law school graduate who had been motivated by the school’s stated goal of wanting to make reparations for its direct benefit from slavery and was willing to make a modest donation specifically to that effort. I never received a reply. This made me doubt the bona fides of Georgetown efforts. Instead I decided to take my modest donation and give it to a historically Black university. The one I chose had a law school. I mailed my anonymous contribution to the HBCU with a letter explaining the original intent of giving the money to Georgetown. I sent a copy of my letter to the president of Georgetown but added my name and address on the copy. I have still not heard a word from Georgetown.
I still hope for a fearless good faith reckoning with our dark racial past which I hope will include ameliorative efforts to address the lasting legacies of this dark past, I wonder about. The current political climate makes this appear very unlikely. I am sure that many of us who safely assume we gained no benefit from slavery or the decimation of Native Americans will see a beneficial connection with these historic wrongs. I encourage you to do what you can.
David Roulston lives in Greenfield.