Discharging a Debt

According to Cose, official investigation, apology, and restitution for atrocious events are essential to the furthering of a community. In the last paragraph on page 502, he writes, "The problem is...that so much was taken and so little given that impoverishment and despair became self-perpetuating." In Psychology we learned about how once a person feels trapped in a hopeless or horrible situation, he or she will remain there, even if there is a clear path out. This idea is passed through the generations. Therefore, if your ancestors were those who were freed from slavery and then deprived of their promised four acres, you are far more likely to live most of your life in poverty, regardless of whether or not there is a clear opportunity. Cose believes that the only way to break this cycle is to acknowledge the wrong-doing and to intervene with the cycle of learned hopelessness, whether it's through monetary reparations or by improving the educational system, giving those trapped in poverty greater opportunity to escape.

It is also important to the society that reparations are made because as Thornburgh stated, "By finally admitting a wrong, a nation does not destroy its integrity, but rather reinforces the sincerity of its commitment to the Constitution, and hence to its people. In forcing us to reexamine our history, you have made us only stronger and more proud." Cose agrees with this concept, as he implies in his descriptions of Tulsa's continued failure to acknowledge the race riots. Several would disagree with Thornburgh's statement, arguing that by looking at our country's past atrocities, we only deepen the wounds they caused, but this is not true. It's similar to what teachers tell us when we learn how to not cheat at the beginning of the year; it's better to fail a test and admit that you didn't study than to ace it because you looked at your neighbor's paper. Obviously it's best not to take either path, but if it comes down to it, reviewing your errors is the only way that you'll be able to grow.

Cose believes that we have to look at our history, both good and bad, in order to advance society. Making amends to them is the only way to ensure that the injured party can continue to have faith in the system, and to ensure that the mistakes will not happen again. As a community, we have to pull up everyone, especially those we have directly oppressed, in order to improve.