When we think about reparations for Black Americans, the natural instinct is to look to our leaders—the presidents, the lawmakers, the people in power—for change. We put our faith in voting, hoping that the next administration will finally bring us the justice we deserve. But what if the system itself, the very leaders we elect, are too deeply connected to the roots of the problem to bring about real change?
In the latest episode of the Broken Traditions Podcast, we explore the shocking truth about how recent presidents, including Joe Biden, Barack Obama, George Bush, and even Vice President Kamala Harris, have direct ties to slave owners. This connection goes beyond mere history—it's a stark reminder that voting alone will never get us the reparations we seek. Let’s break down why this path is a dead end and why it’s time to reconsider our strategy for justice.
1. The Direct Lineage to Slavery
It’s not just about the past; it’s about how the past shapes the present. Joe Biden, Barack Obama, and George Bush all have direct familial ties to slave owners. Kamala Harris’s ancestors in Jamaica were also slave owners. These are not just coincidental historical facts—they’re a reflection of how deep slavery runs in the power structures of our society. How can we expect leaders with such ties to champion reparations sincerely? They are part of a lineage that benefited from the exploitation of Black people.
2. The System Is Built to Protect Itself
The presidency, the Ivy League institutions that educate our leaders, and the political machine itself are all interconnected with the history of slavery. These institutions were built, funded, and maintained by systems that exploited and oppressed Black people. Voting for reparations means asking a system to dismantle itself—a system that was designed to protect the interests of those in power, not the marginalized. This makes the idea of voting our way to reparations a naïve hope rather than a realistic solution.
3. The Repeated Avoidance of Reparations
Let’s face it: presidents have been avoiding the reparations conversation for decades. Politicians might mention reparations during campaigns to gain support, but they rarely take meaningful action. Why? Because addressing reparations would mean holding America accountable for its darkest chapters—and many of our leaders are too closely connected to those chapters. When we elect presidents tied to slave owners, it becomes clear why this conversation is conveniently brushed aside once they take office.
4. Voting Is Important, But It's Not Enough
This is not to say that voting doesn’t matter—it absolutely does. However, if we put all our hopes in voting for reparations, we are bound to be disappointed. Real change requires more than a vote; it requires action on the ground, grassroots efforts, economic empowerment, and holding our leaders accountable in ways that go beyond the ballot box. If our leaders have ancestral ties to those who profited from our oppression, it’s up to us to demand change from outside the system too.
5. It’s Time to Take Control of Our Own Future
If we want reparations, we need to be proactive in pursuing them. Depending solely on presidents who are tied to slave-owning families won’t get us there. Instead, we should focus on building economic power within our communities, demanding corporate accountability, and creating a movement that cannot be ignored. We need to look beyond the Oval Office and realize that the power lies within us. Let’s break away from the belief that the government will save us and take matters into our own hands.
The idea that voting will bring us reparations is a comforting one, but it’s not based in reality. When we look at the history of our leaders—their ties to slave owners, their reluctance to confront America’s sins—it becomes clear why we can’t rely solely on the political system for justice. It’s time to break away from this dead-end belief and forge a new path toward reparations—one led by us, for us.
Call to Action: If you’re ready to dig deeper into these uncomfortable truths and explore what real change looks like, watch the full episode of the Broken Traditions Podcast. Let’s have the conversations that need to be had and take action to create the future we deserve