A new poll in the United States says that three out of four African-Americans are in favour of some kind of reparation for the atrocities black people were dealt during slavery.
This significant majority is supported by only 15% of white people.
These new numbers are based on a survey by the AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. The numbers point to quite stark differences in opinions on how to deal with slavery even if respondents agree that the institution was evil.
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Reparations, according to the 75% of African-Americans who answered in the affirmative, should come in federal payments to descendants of those who were enslaved.
The poll was conducted with 1,300 people who included black, white and Hispanic Americans. Overall, only 29% of the respondents are supportive of reparation.
In fact, only 54% of white Americans believe that structures conceived under slavery continue to negatively affect black people. That is against 83% of black people who say the legacy of slavery continues to affect them.
The sentiments shared by the public inform the politics of leaders of America’s two major political parties who are deeply divided on the matter of reparation.
A number of candidates in the Democratic presidential primaries have had very positive views on reparations. Elizabeth Warren, Beto O’Rourke and Bernie Sanders support reparations with Marianne Williamson calling for a $500 billion package for descendants of slaves over the course of a decade.
Meanwhile, Republican leaders are not enthused about the subject. Senate Majority Leader, Mitch McConnell rejected proposals on reparations, adding “none of us currently living are responsible” for slavery.
