Members of the Boston University chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People heatedly discussed reparations for descendants of those affected by slavery last night at the College of Arts and Sciences.
The meeting was held in reaction to anti-reparations comments made by conservative journalist David Horowitz at a lecture sponsored by the College Republicans last week. It was Horowitz who funded a controversial advertisement published in several college newspapers last month, including The Daily Free Press, entitled “Ten Reasons Why Reparations for Slavery is a Bad Idea – and Racist Too.”
“[Horowitz] says what a lot of people harbor in their hearts,” said Marshalee Ducille, president of the BU NAACP chapter and a junior in the College of Arts and Sciences. “What upset people most was that his justification was incorrect.”
Horowitz’s ad sparked debate at colleges nationwide, though according to Justin Ryan, a member of the College Republicans, the group did not anticipate the controversy surrounding Horowitz. “We booked him in January,” he said. “We didn’t know he was going to book the ads.”
Ryan defended Horowitz’s right to free speech, a point several attendees supported. But while some agreed with his right to free speech, CAS junior Onaje Crawford said he thought the way Horowitz voiced his opinion was in bad taste. “Not everything is appropriate,” he said.
Gabrielle Saylor, a CAS sophomore, also supports the right to free speech, but said Horowitz doesn’t understand what slaves experienced.
“Until he lives a day in the shoes of a black person, anything he says is null and void,” she said. “When you impose your views on other people, it’s a fine line between free speech and hate.”
Ducille, however, applauded Horowitz’s boldness. “I commend his audacity,” she said.
As for monetary reparations, members of the group said money will not erase the legacy of slavery. “I personally don’t believe you can place a price on a life,” Ducille said. “Reparations should not be about writing a check to someone.”
Saylor agreed, but said some form of apology is necessary. “I don’t think monetary reparations should be given,” she said. “But you need to say ‘We were wrong’ about what happened.”
While saying she doesn’t “think monetary reparations will fix the problem,” Sargent College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences sophomore Keri Pegram said the idea of some type of reparations shouldn’t be so quickly discounted. “Everybody is so quick to be against everything,” she said.
Dan Chenkin, a CAS junior, said before the issue of reparations can be decided, racism needs to end. “Racism still exists,” he said. “By asking for reparations, you imply that racism is over.”
Those in attendance agreed that while discussion of racism is a good first step, action needs to follow. “The forum is good,” Crawford said, “but what’s going to change things is not going to happen in this room.”
Now, Saylor said, organization is imperative. “As a black community, we’re not mobilizing,” she said.
Crawford agreed, saying, “People think a certain way because it’s ingrained into their heads, and we need to combat that.”
While many disagreed with the contents of the Horowitz’s advertisement, some appreciated the attention he has drawn to the topic of reparations.
“Had he never come, I wouldn’t have known their was a campaign for reparations going on,” said Teri Moss-Tyler, a CAS freshman.
Shannon Hodge, executive vice president of the BU NAACP and a senior in the College of Communication, said the outcome of last night’s discussion was productive. “We believe in open discussion,” she said. “Whether or not he is right or wrong is up to people’s opinion.”
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