Directions: Read the summary, watch the videos and answer the discussion questions below. 

Summary: The lasting impact of slavery is a current issue of debate for many Democratic 2020 presidential candidates. “America was founded on principles of liberty and freedom and on the backs of slave labor,” said Sen. Elizabeth Warren, a Massachusetts Democrat. “Until that original sin is addressed, we may think that we’re moving forward as one nation, but I don’t think that we ever really will,” said candidate Julian Castro, former housing secretary under President Obama.

Some candidates such as Bernie Sanders, Kamala Harris and Andrew Yang believe there should be policies to benefit all communities regardless of race, such as universal income and stricter regulations on big banks. On the other hand, founder of the Equal Justice Society Eva Patterson argues that reparations are the only way to relieve the burden of centuries of slavery and discrimination for many African Americans today. “Reparations are a way to make us whole,” she says.

April 18, 2019 video and resource materials from PBS NewsHour.

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