A new research poll revealed that most Americans oppose having the U.S. government pay reparations to the descendants of slaves.
READ MORE: Poll reveals most Americans oppose cash reparations for slavery
The research was conducted by the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. The survey says that a mere 29% of Americans are in agreement that the government should foot the bill for cash reparations, the NY Post reports.
Reparations has been a hot topic of debate in the Democratic presidential primary. Previously, several 2020 candidates, including Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), former Rep. Beto O’Rourke (D-Texas) and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), vowed that they would sign a bill forming a reparation study commission into law if they become president.
Among the results, it was revealed that there was a split among races in supporting the measure.
For instance, 74% of Black Americans favor reparations. In contrast only 15% of white Americans support it. Some 44% of Hispanics are in favor.
On the subject of whether the U.S. government should apologize for its role in slavery, respondents were divided. According to the report:
64% of white Americans oppose an apology.
77% of Black Americans and 64% of Hispanics approve of a government apology.
46% of Americans favor and 52% oppose a national apology.
“An apology for slavery would help the country move on,” said Reuben Miller, assistant professor in the University of Chicago School of Social Service Administration.
READ MORE: Lawmakers debate reparations for slavery: ‘We elected an African-American president’
“And by moving on, I don’t mean moving on and forgetting,” he said. “I mean moving on past the atrocity. It would teach a lesson about the relationship of black Americans with their government.”
Anita Belle, founder of the Reparations Labor Union in Detroit, says “doing the right thing means making amends for what a nation did wrong.”
“We have to look at righting the wrong with cash to the people that were done wrong,” Belle said. “To just say we aren’t going to do anything is to just perpetuate the wrong.”
Read more of the breakdown here.
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