The art of political theater never fails to amuse, especially when it kicks off with a golden rerun of everyone’s favorite plot device: reparations for slavery. Cue the collective eye roll as the particularly colorful segment of the Democrat party—lovingly dubbed the “lunatic wing”—brings to life what many see as their most beloved fantasy: doling out cash in the name of justice. The “squad,” those champions of utopian dreams, have resurfaced with their resolution demanding reparations, or as the skeptical might call it, a cash flow from fantasyland. But clearly, the aim is to rake in points in the game of moral grandstanding.
The Democratic narrative argues we’re experiencing “anti-blackness on steroids,” hence the need for reparations. They will brandish this argument unapologetically, boldly, and with a flair that would make even a Netflix drama envious. Forget the logistics of how this payout would work; who needs those pesky details? After all, whether one’s as destitute as a college student or lounging in a mansion like Oprah Winfrey, the windfall of reparations is on the table for anyone with ancestral roots in slave America. But don’t hold your breath waiting for Harvard-level scrutiny of how this plan rolls out in reality.
While the variegated Democratic proposals make their merry way through the hallowed halls of Congress, mainstream media, seemingly in on the comic relief, fields serious questions. They want to understand—is it just the economically disadvantaged who cash in, or does everyone get a slice? Could anyone with the right lineage, regardless of their wealth, claim a slice of this pie? The media circus claps along as logic takes a backseat to fantasy, while the cogs of this grand, impractical machine turn ever so slowly.
This resurgence of romance for reparations marks a historic day—not one of achievement, but of boundless, unapologetic impracticality. We nod along as all-encompassing terms like “movement” are tossed about—as if we’re witnessing a new historical epoch rather than a bedtime story. Meanwhile, out in the real world, some suggest a little financial role reversal: sending bills to remedy damages caused by the somewhat less-than-peaceful protests of 2020. Those riot price tags, not imaginary reparations, are what weigh heavy on the wallets of taxpayers everywhere.
But don’t be fooled, this stage play isn’t just about dishing out reparations or dragging “oppression” into every talking point. Oh no, there’s a more colorful backdrop of “black fatigue” bubbling in the depths of social media. People across all colors and creeds whisper about it in the hallways of X, formerly known as Twitter—a sentiment rising against a backdrop of increasing resentment toward certain elements of woke culture. Let’s not forget how little these scripted dramas affect the real stage—where debates like that new impeachment escapade or mythical presidential pardons flicker briefly before evaporating into the next news cycle. Ultimately, with every act, each side fights to hold the spotlight, even if the audience is merely peeking through their fingers, equal parts entertained and bewildered by the show unraveling before them.
