Chained to Justice

Chained to Justice

Present-day America must make reparations for generations of
wrong

Is the movie "Heat" pure entertainment or a huge slice of
Americana? After watching writer and director Michael Mann’s movie,
I found myself wondering why, after three or so hours, I felt a
little let down.

The two adversaries, played by Al Pacino (the law) and Robert
DeNiro (the criminal), were obviously more similar than different.
Why did I find myself rooting for the criminal? After he robbed a
bank, killed many innocent people and took lots of money, I still
wanted him to get away with his crimes. Most of the people I’ve
talked to also wanted the bank robbers’ crew to escape after
committing those awful crimes. Why? What is it in our American
character that makes us root for the "bad" guy?

Historically, crime has been the American way. We are socialized
to believe that justice is an illusion and that it’s OK to murder,
rape and steal, as long as you’re on the right side of the line.
This country has drawn all kinds of lines, whether they be across
class, gender or race.

The movie, in many ways, parallels American culture at large.
The audience is inevitably led to side with, or have empathy for,
the bank robbers’ crew, led by DeNiro’s character, Neil. The
robbers don’t truly want to hurt anyone, but in the process of
robbing banks, making an omelet or building a nation, you have to
crack a few eggs. We all accept this, right? Not if yours is the
egg fried.

Just ask Native Americans and African Americans, who have paid
an unfair price in pain and suffering in order for this nation to
become the economic power it is today, if they agree. Many of the
economic and social problems that plague the African American
community are a direct result of the crime committed against their
forefathers: slavery. Who can be held accountable for this awful
crime?

How about those who benefit from the fruits of slavery? In a
Daily Bruin viewpoint ("Funneling college admissions with race,"
Oct. 17), Chris Ivicevich and Richard Welsh wrote, "Should one be
held accountable for the sins of one’s predecessors? Surely not. If
my grandfather were a thief, should I be punished for his actions?
Surely not." And I would agree wholeheartedly – as long as one
doesn’t benefit from the sins of one’s predecessors, either.

In the case of many Americans, the wealth accumulated through
slavery has put their progeny in a privileged economic position.
Conversely, the progeny of the slaves are left in a disadvantaged
position. Today, most of us agree that slavery was wrong.
Therefore, the money acquired from it is unjust money. Has any of
it been returned to the slaves’ descendants? No.

For many Americans, raising a family is a basic goal. This is
one of those family values some politicians feel American society
lacks today. Parents prepare their children for a better standard
of living than they themselves had. Accumulated wealth is used to
provide opportunities for better education, business capital and
countless other advantages in a competitive capitalist society.
Therefore, children of wealthy parents have an advantage over
children of the economically disadvantaged.

Where does the wealth come from? If it is stolen, does it become
clean money once it has passed from one generation to the next, or
the next or the next, until subsequent generations are not even
clear how their forefathers first acquired wealth?

If one can pass wealth on to children, without passing the
responsibility that goes along with it, then bank robbery and other
crimes look like highly profitable professions in America. Once you
get on in years and you know your days are numbered, you may as
well rob a bank. After all, if you get away with it, then your
progeny will be set for life and won’t have to live with the guilt
usually associated with awful crimes.

Even in "Heat," Neil hinted at settling down and living a
normal, yet very comfortable life. Surely his children would have
been afforded many luxuries. The ironic thing is that most of us
were pulling for him and wanted him to get away with it. Why?
Because getting away with theft and other heinous crimes is more
American than apple pie will ever be.

Before you make a pie, you need the ingredients, and if you
don’t have them, why not just take them – like land taken from
Native Americans? And, anyone who has ever cooked before knows that
food tastes much better when someone else cooks while you rest and
smell the aroma. While African Americans did the cooking, others
ate the pie.

It’s a good thing, however, that we live in a nation that prides
itself on being founded on freedom and justice. We can all rest
assured that no crimes shall go unpunished.

One excuse for slave masters’ progeny not being held accountable
for slavery is that at the time, slavery was not a crime, and
therefore, no form of justice or reparation is needed. If the slave
masters didn’t know it was wrong, then how could they (let alone
their children) be held accountable? And they didn’t actually
commit a crime, since slavery was not outlawed by the Constitution.
Bull. Somehow, the sons and daughters of this country’s founding
fathers have arrived at a great moral realization that eluded them
for hundreds of years. I don’t buy it.

As human beings, we all share basic unwritten rights prescribed
before laws are written. We also share the same basic capacity to
think and learn. Are we to believe that it took one group of humans
(white America) 400 years to come to the same conclusion that
another group (slaves) arrived at in a matter of seconds?

I contend that those who institutionalized slavery knew it was
wrong and against basic human laws before they even started; yet
they continued to do it. And that, my fellow Americans, is a
consciously committed crime.

It can’t be denied that this country is in great debt to African
Americans for the crimes committed against them. In a way, maybe
the sad death of Neil in the movie "Heat" will prove to be
prophetic for this nation. Although Neil was a smart thief, time
eventually caught up with him and he had to pay for his crimes.
Maybe one day America will start practicing the justice for which
it so fervently fights and preaches.

When this nation does finally pay for its crime (time will catch
up), there needs to be a real 40 acres and a real mule, not another
empty promise. Why does true justice still elude African Americans
in this country? I don’t know. Maybe we’re not "American" enough in
our approach.

Green is a fifth-year history student. His column appears on
alternate Wednesdays.Comments to [email protected]