John McWhorter

About the author: John McWhorter is the author of Losing the Race: Self-Sabotage in Black America and a professor of linguistics at the University of California, Berkeley.

Proponents of slavery reparations contend that the legacy of slavery has forced modern-day African Americans to live in an enduring cycle of poverty. However, the activists' argument for reparations relies on the inaccurate stereotype that "black" most often means "poor" in the United States; in fact, the majority of blacks are enjoying economic success and have entered the middle class. Moreover, since the 1960s, reparations have been provided in the form of welfare and affirmative-action programs. Further handouts will not encourage initiative—the necessary attribute for lasting success—among those blacks who are still struggling below the...