Reparations for Racism: Why the Persistence of Institutional Racism in America Demands More Than Equal Opportunity for Black Citizens

Author

Alexander Lowe, Ursinus CollegeFollow

Submission Date

7-24-2015

Document Type

Paper- Restricted to Campus Access

Department

Philosophy

Faculty Mentor

Roger Florka

Comments

Presented during the 17th Annual Summer Fellows Symposium, July 24, 2015 at Ursinus College.

Project Description

This essay seeks to expose the causational effects of various forms of distributive justice on wealth inequality within the United States of America. Herein, several frameworks of distributive justice are assessed through John Rawls’ reflective equilibrium methodology. Through this assessment, a defense is sought for the need for societal reparation to African Americans. Though this argument is decidedly focused on the struggles of this specific group, the arguments presented may be applicable to other historically and contemporarily oppressed groups, such as LGBTQ individuals and women.

Recommended Citation

Lowe, Alexander, "Reparations for Racism: Why the Persistence of Institutional Racism in America Demands More Than Equal Opportunity for Black Citizens" (2015). Philosophy Summer Fellows. 3.
https://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/phil_sum/3