The Case for Reparations Lesson Plan

In “The Case for Reparations,” renowned essayist Ta-Nehisi Coates lays out a multi-layered argument in favor of the United States government paying reparations to black people for the injustices and repercussions of racism, slavery, and white supremacy. He focuses on neighborhoods in Chicago, a city with great historical significance for the black community, and on housing laws and policies throughout the nation. For Coates, reparations goes beyond financial compensation; it requires that the nation study and seek to understand the history of slavery and its legacies, which have undercut the success of the black community collectively. Throughout the essay, Coates describes black...