On Jonathan Capehart's Sunday Show on MSNBC, Al Sharpton suggested that Republicans who oppose reparations and affirmative action believe that blacks are "genetically inferior:"
Without discussing reasons to oppose reparations, Capehart suggested that Republicans could use it as a "major issue" in 2024. Replied Sharpton:
Politically, I think you are right. Some Republicans will use it. And I think the answer is, well let me get this right: you don't want affirmative action to correct what happened. Which is a conservative remedy . . . So, what are you saying, that blacks are just genetically inferior? And that we just, by some genetics, couldn't equal everybody else in education? That we don't own land? That we don't have the same wealth?
Sharpton's suggestion is nothing less than bizarre. No serious conservative has made the case against "affirmative action" or reparations by arguing that blacks are genetically inferior.
Rather, the core argument against such programs is that past discrimination should not be remedied by current discrimination. That non-black college applicants shouldn't be discriminated against because of past discrimination against black applicants. That non-blacks, including the great majority who are not the descendants of slave owners, should not be forced to pay today's blacks, who have themselves never been enslaved.
And then there was Sharpton's head-scratcher, calling racial quotas in hiring a "conservative remedy." What? In overturning affirmative action in college admissions, the Supreme Court found that it violates the Equal Protection clause of the 14th Amendment. If there is anything that is not conservative, it is state-sanctioned discrimination on the basis of race.
But let's guess Sharpton means it's "more conservative" than handing out seven-figure reparations checks to African Americans. Capehart's other guest, Kamilah Moore, chaired the California reparations task force that recommended a million dollars per African-American resident of California.
On MSNBC, Al Sharpton suggesting that Republicans who oppose reparations and affirmative action believe that blacks are "genetically inferior" was sponsored in part by Abbvie, maker of Rinvoq, and ASPCA.
Here's the transcript.
MSNBC
The Sunday Show With Jonathan Capehart
7/9/23
9:22 am EDTJONATHAN CAPEHART: As the issue of reparations makes its way through the state legislature, and becomes a national debate, what are your thoughts on Republican candidates potentially using it as a major issue in 2024?
AL SHARPTON: I think that, first of all, as you know, Jonathan, I've been an advocate for reparations for many years. I think the fact that they have done it in a methodical way in California and in other states are now beginning to pick it up. I think it shows the seriousness of it.
And no one can deny that we are owed for building a country that our forefathers never got paid for. And that we in our lifetime have suffered from. I mean, my parents couldn't go to certain schools because of segregation. We are not talking about by and by, years ago. We're talking about in our lifetime. so I think that it is a clear moral and factual basis for it.
Politically, I think you are right. Some Republicans will use it. And I think the answer is, well let me get this right: you don't want affirmative action to correct what happened. Which is a conservative remedy.
You don't want to repair the damage you did. Cause we must remember: we talking about government repairing what government did. We by law couldn't go to certain schools. By law couldn't sit in the front of a bus. By law were slaves.
So, what are you saying, that blacks are just genetically inferior? And that we just, by some genetics, couldn't equal everybody else in education? That we don't own land. That we don't have the same wealth? This is all because of what was done by government. Government must repair what government does.
And I think the fight back with the right wing and Republicans are, if you don't want affirmative action, you don't want reparations, then tell us what it is that you to remedy what was done to us and continues to be done.
Make them say it! That we just think you served for nothing. You can't rise up to the occasion. And we're marking you out. Make them say it.
