Entering the Conversation

As you respond to each of the following prompts, support your position with appropriate evidence, including at least three sources in this Conversation on Japanese American internment and reparations, unless otherwise indicated.

  1. To what extent are the arguments for African American reparations analogous to the arguments that led to monetary reparations for Japanese Americans interned during World War II? Discuss points of both comparison and contrast.

    Question

    ALMF/kS1zzW73MouRsoXk1h0lKY=
    Entering the Conversation: - To what extent are the arguments for African American reparations analogous to the arguments that led to monetary reparations for Japanese Americans interned during World War II? Discuss points of both comparison and contrast.
  2. What does Eric K. Yamamoto mean by the “dangers and the transformative potential of reparations” (par. 18)? Taking this distinction into account, explain why you believe that African Americans should or should not receive reparations today. If not, why not? If so, what form should reparations take?

    Question

    ALMF/kS1zzW73MouRsoXk1h0lKY=
    Entering the Conversation: - What does Eric K. Yamamoto mean by the “dangers and the transformative potential of reparations” (par. 18)? Taking this distinction into account, explain why you believe that African Americans should or should not receive reparations today. If not, why not? If so, what form should reparations take?
  3. Explain why you agree or disagree with the following assertion of Yamamoto: “Reparations for African Americans, conceived as repair, can help mend this larger tear in the social fabric [of the United States] for the benefit of both blacks and mainstream America” (par. 22).

    Question

    ALMF/kS1zzW73MouRsoXk1h0lKY=
    Entering the Conversation: - Explain why you agree or disagree with the following assertion of Yamamoto: “Reparations for African Americans, conceived as repair, can help mend this larger tear in the social fabric [of the United States] for the benefit of both blacks and mainstream America” (par. 22).
  4. Now that the United States has elected an African American president to two terms, is the reparations debate still viable or even relevant? Why or why not?

    Question

    ALMF/kS1zzW73MouRsoXk1h0lKY=
    Entering the Conversation: - Now that the United States has elected an African American president to two terms, is the reparations debate still viable or even relevant? Why or why not?
  5. Different terms for “reparations” are used in the various source documents for this Conversation. These include “targeted compensation,” “compensation,” “redress,” “repair,” and “restitution.” How do different terms represent different attitudes toward “reparations” and what it means to the community at issue as well as to the larger society?

    Question

    ALMF/kS1zzW73MouRsoXk1h0lKY=
    Entering the Conversation: - Different terms for “reparations” are used in the various source documents for this Conversation. These include “targeted compensation,” “compensation,” “redress,” “repair,” and “restitution.” How do different terms represent different attitudes toward “reparations” and what it means to the community at issue as well as to the larger society?