Reparations

[Boiler 45,952]

http://www.reparations.me/

I invite People of Color to ask for what we need to feel better, be happier, be more productive by posting in this space. These may be both material and immaterial requests.

I invite people who identify as White to offer services or contributions to People of Color in need of time, energy, substantive care, and support.

[Mista Fantastic 13]

What.

[smilesammich 10,727]

Meet Natasha Marin: The woman behind REPARATIONS

Natasha Marin is a conceptual artist working across disciplines and media to collaborate with People to create opportunities for meaningful IRL and digital engagement.

Reparations began as a social media experiment on Facebook on July 15, 2016.

​

What if you actually did something meaningful for someone before the end of the year?

What if a stranger restored your belief in humanity, if only for a moment, by supporting you and allowing you to claim something you need in a material way?

I invite People of Color to ask for what we need to feel better, be happier, be more productive by posting in this space. These may be both material and immaterial requests.

I invite people who identify as White to offer services or contributions to People of Color in need of time, energy, substantive care, and support.

I don't want to put limitations on this social experiment, but here's how I imagine it might work:

POC 1: I need a massage. This week.

White Person 1: [posts Groupon with code for redemption]

POC2: I need therapy. I can spend $10 a session.

White Person 2: [posts contact information to a therapist who they have made arrangements with.]

POC 3: I need groceries.

White Person 3: "I'll get them for you. PM me and I'll send an Amazon Fresh or Safeway delivery. You just pick out what you want. I have a $200 limit."

POC 4: I'm too upset to make dinner. I live in Seattle.

White Person 4: "Come over to my house for dinner, bring a friend if you like. PM me and I'll send you the address, or can I order delivery to you? What kind of food do you like?"

POC 5: I need a quiet place to work on _________.

White Person 5: "I have an office, spare room, house, that will be unoccupied on the following dates, would you like to use that space? I can send pictures ..."

POC 6: I want to scream and cuss at someone.

White Person 6: "I volunteer as tribute. How do we set this up?"

POC 7: I want to escape this cruel world in a *Specific Videogame* but can't afford it on Steam right now. This is not a crisis, I just don't trust people easily and want to see if this works.

White Person 7: Thank you for giving me the chance to do something concrete and relatively easy. I was quietly hating myself for doing nothing.

I"m thinking that if you're not interested in the project you can, not.

amazing huh.

Edited August 4, 2016 by smilesammich

[We Keep Receipts 9,238]

I'd love to post this on VJ just to see the insults fly.

[Sousuke 1,214]

I went on the site to see if people needed shooting lessons in my area....no one did.

In all serious, I did see if anyone was on the site that I could help.

[Merrytooth 5,748]

I find it pathetic that People of Color need white people to make them feel better, be happier, be more productive.

[smilesammich 10,727]

I went on the site to see if people needed shooting lessons in my area....no one did.

In all serious, I did see if anyone was on the site that I could help.

and you bravely lived to report the experience back to us with your whiteness still intact? you weren't stunned into permanent white guilt paralysis ?

jkjkjk

[We Keep Receipts 9,238]

I find it pathetic that People of Color need white people to make them feel better, be happier, be more productive.

We don't, but the fact that every single bad thing that this country has done and apologized for(Japan internment, Native American massacre, etc) slavery is the only thing that's never actually been brought up and dealt with properly.

I'd be good with some classes on how to improve/keep good credit, investment advice, and how to start/run a business. Because these things aren't abundant in poor urban/rural areas.

[Sousuke 1,214]

We don't, but the fact that every single bad thing that this country has done and apologized for(Japan internment, Native American massacre, etc) slavery is the only thing that's never actually been brought up and dealt with properly.

I'd be good with some classes on how to improve/keep good credit, investment advice, and how to start/run a business. Because these things aren't abundant in poor urban/rural areas.

I think Congress did officially apologize in 2008.

[We Keep Receipts 9,238]

I think Congress did officially apologize in 2008.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=93059465

Thanks for the info.

[Randyandyuni 2,682]

My family came to the US as immigrants in 1919, I am pretty sure I had no slave holding relatives, am I merely supposed to pay reparations because of my skin color? That concept itself is racist.

I grew up in public housing, was forced bussed to satisfy a requirement in Boston city schools to serve racial quotas. I have a black son n law and a mixed race daughter in law, I am marrying an Asian, I am pretty sure my diversity is good enough without giving handouts because of any notion by others that I should have guilt for being a member of a particular race.

I make up to those I personally wrong, I am not driven by collective guilt.

[Boiler 45,952]

My family came to the US as immigrants in 1919, I am pretty sure I had no slave holding relatives, am I merely supposed to pay reparations because of my skin color? That concept itself is racist.

I grew up in public housing, was forced bussed to satisfy a requirement in Boston city schools to serve racial quotas. I have a black son n law and a mixed race daughter in law, I am marrying an Asian, I am pretty sure my diversity is good enough without giving handouts because of any notion by others that I should have guilt for being a member of a particular race.

I make up to those I personally wrong, I am not driven by collective guilt.

But you still benefited from White Privilege?

[Randyandyuni 2,682]

We don't, but the fact that every single bad thing that this country has done and apologized for(Japan internment, Native American massacre, etc) slavery is the only thing that's never actually been brought up and dealt with properly.

I'd be good with some classes on how to improve/keep good credit, investment advice, and how to start/run a business. Because these things aren't abundant in poor urban/rural areas.

If you are serious in the classes check the ut the Khan Academy, they have classes on entreprenaurship and economics and they are free, well structured and worthwhile. The address is www.khanacademy.org it is worth a look, just need Internet access Edited August 5, 2016 by Randyandyuni

[Randyandyuni 2,682]

But you still benefited from White Privilege?

Are you asking me or telling me?

[Boiler 45,952]

Are you asking me or telling me?

Telling you, it is quite a big issue here on VJ.

Perhaps something the Site Admin could do, have a VJ Reparations facility for those who wish to assuage their guilt.