Abstract
The Journal of Black Psychology (JBP) is joining with The Journal of African American History (JAAH), The Black Scholar, and other scholarly publications in issuing a “Call for Papers” for an upcoming symposia devoted to the discussion and analysis of what might be included in a “Ten Point Program” for reparations payments to African Americans in the United States. The JBP, the JAAH, The Black Scholar, and other scholarly journals are soliciting manuscripts that identify and explain how reparations payments should be used to advance the economic and educational conditions collectively for African Americans in the United States, especially the children and youth. The Ten Point Program for the United States follows the issuing of the “CARICOM Ten Point Program” formulated by the Caribbean nations and issued in March 2014.
The CARICOM Ten Point Program focuses on “reparations as a development strategy.” Their goal is to use reparations payments to deal collectively with pressing economic and educational problems facing the citizens in the Caribbean that trace their origins to the underdevelopment imposed by slavery, slave trading, native genocide, and economic exploitation by the European nations. The 14 CARICOM nations voted unanimously to seek reparations and demand: (1) an official apology from slave trading nations; (2) support for repatriation programs for those desiring resettlement in Africa; (3) the creation of an indigenous peoples development program; (4) support for Caribbean cultural institutions such as museum and research centers; (5) the launching of public health programs to address the high rates of hypertension and type II diabetes; (6) the mounting of illiteracy elimination programs; (7) the expansion of knowledge of Africa through school and cultural exchange programs; (8) the development of rehabilitation programs to overcome psychological trauma produced by enslavement and underdevelopment; (9) the transfer of knowledge of the latest technology and science into the training of Caribbean youth; and (10) the reduction of domestic debt and cancellation of international debt.
The JBP, the JAAH, The Black Scholar, and other scholarly journals seek manuscripts offering a scholarly analysis of an issue or problem that should be included in the Ten Point Program. Using the CARICOM Ten Point Program as the model, what specific issue and problem should be included in reparations demands for people of African descent in the United States? For example, African Americans do not have to seek a “full apology” for slavery and slave trading since one has already been issued by the U.S. Congress. However, like people in the Caribbean, African Americans face a severe health crisis and could use reparations funds to obtain increased access to medical services to combat childhood obesity, type II diabetes, HIV infections, breast cancer, and high infant mortality rates. We invite health professionals to submit proposals for the use of reparations payments for much needed medical programs aimed at African American neighborhoods and communities.
Recently, there has been a significant decline in the enrollments at many Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Should the Ten Point program call for reparations to be used to increase the endowments and scholarship funds available at HBCUs? What would be the plan for disseminating funds to the HBCUs? Should a “Reparations Superfund” be created to provide successful educational alternatives to “test preparation” in public elementary and secondary schools, and to relieve the financial debt of college students and graduates who agree to work in social welfare and health programs created through reparations funds? How can reparations funds be used to support neighborhood redevelopment programs aimed at unemployed or formerly incarcerated black youth?
Frederick Douglass declared, “Power concedes nothing without a demand; it never has and never will.” But he also pointed out, “Where there is no vision, the people perish.” The purpose of this “Call for Papers” is to promote a dialogue among groups and individuals interested in pursuing reparatory justice in the 21st century by proposing what should be included in the Ten Point Program. “The Case for Reparations” for African Americans in the United States has been made in the JAAH (Winter-Spring 2012), in numerous books, articles, and most recently by Ta-Nehisi Coates in the Atlantic Monthly (June 2014). The next step is to begin to express our vision for an improved future for our children and grandchildren through the expenditure of reparations funds. What should be the collective vision for African Americans in the 21st century? African Americans should follow the lead of their sisters and brothers in the Caribbean and begin the serious dialogue to formulate our “Ten Point Program.”
Submitted manuscripts will be peer-reviewed and will be evaluated and published on the basis of clarity, the documentation included supporting the proposed program, and grounding in the theory, research, or practice of Black psychology. Manuscripts can be up to 20 pages, double-spaced, 12-point font (e.g., Times New Roman). Manuscripts should be submitted at http://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/jbp, where authors will be required to set up an online account in the SAGE Track system powered by ScholarOne. The JBP uses the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (6th Edition) for citations. Your cover letter should include the title of your manuscript or program, name, postal address, e-mail address, phone number, and a brief 2-3 sentence overview of your manuscript. Your manuscript should begin with the title of the paper and should NOT include your name.
The JBP will begin publishing proposals for topics to be included in the Ten Point Program with the December 2015 issue.