Robert L. Johnson, America’s 1st Black Billionaire & BET’s Founder, Wants His Reparations Check ASAP

Robert L. Johnson, America’s First Black Billionaire & BET’s Founder, Claims He Wants His Reparations Check ASAP

Robert L. Johnson wants his check for the government’s injustices against Black Americans.

Yesterday (Tuesday, June 29th), Robert L. Johnson shared with Vice News his take on reparations, and he claimed he wants his check and apology for our country’s history of racism. While he admitted he may never receive a check, he also acknowledged how he sees other versions of reparations happening. Specifically, he touched on the implementation of critical race theory, corporate pledges to fight systemic racism, and debt relief for Black farmers. Regarding these initiatives, Robert L. Johnson stated:

“That’s what’s happening to the reparations—it’s been cut up into small pieces of things that look and feel like, ‘We want to end systemic racism, we want to end police brutality and shootings and to provide financing to Black small business owners.'”

However, he also addressed how these initiatives ultimately work against the possibility of monetary reparations. He claimed:

“People can say, ‘Well, we really don’t need reparations because when you put all of these things together, it’s reparations. It’s just not one big bill or asking this country to stand up and apologize, and you’re not asking people to pay out of their paychecks.'”

He continued:

“Reparations had two components: The first was atonement, and the other was monetary. With no doubt whatsoever, it was supposed to come from the government representing the people of the country. It was reimbursement, or recompense if you will, for the harm.”

Essentially, Robert L. Johnson recognizes the current work being put in to help Black Americans. However, he says that they aren’t proper reparations–calling the current approach “placebo paternalism.” So, he still wants all Black Americans to get their checks!

Robert L. Johnson previously pushed for a total of $14 trillion to be paid to Black Americans as reparations for slavery and systemic racism. Regarding his call for monetary reparations, he claimed:

“Reparations would require the entire country to… admit that the result of slavery has been 200 years of systemic racism and for that reason Black folks have been denied $13-15 trillion of wealth and therefore we as a country now must atone by paying Black people of all stripes—the rich ones, the poor ones, and the middle—out of our pocket.”

What do you think about Robert L. Johnson’s views on reparations? Comment down below to let us know!