In his April 19 letter, “Reparations won’t change the past,” Mr. Michael T. Falkstrom suggested that paying reparations to the derivative descendants of former slaves would be economically unsound and basically only a token gesture with no real benefits to either the payee or this nation as a whole. I believe he is wrong.

I would like to recommend to Mr. Falkstrom (and any other interested parties) a book on the subject that presents a scholarly, fair and balanced perspective. The work is titled “Paying the Social Debt,” by Richard F. America.

This issue is of such profound and unmistakable importance to our nation’s overall racial healing that this treatise deserves a sincere and honest scrutiny.

A determined and frank discussion of this difficult matter, I believe, requires that each “side” know and understand the legitimate arguments of the other viewpoint.

We can all benefit from taking the time to give a fair and open hearing to each other’s perspectives.

I hope this course of action leads us all to a higher resolution that benefits everyone.

Clarence James

Junior

English