What is atonement? Atonement is the concept of a person taking action to correct previous wrongdoing on their part, either through direct action to undo the consequences of that act, equivalent action to do good for others, or some other expression of feelings of remorse.

Here are several instances throughout U.S. history in which America admitted to acting wrongly, and atoned.

- Native Americans

- US to Japanese Americans for Internment

- US to Aleuts of Alaska

- North Carolina to Eugenics Victims (Forced Sterilization)

- US to the victims of the Tuskegee experiment

- Florida to the survivors of the Rosewood massacre

- City of Chicago to victims of police torture

But there's one egregious act missing from that list above... enslavement. Under the law at that time, Blacks were treated as property and could be bought, sold, or given away. The forced migration and subsequent harsh treatment of slaves in growing cotton, sugar and tobacco was integral to establishing the United States as a world economic power. 

Slavery continues to have an impact on America in the most basic economic sense. Studies show the legacy of slavery still affects the situation of black people in American society today.

The United States has not admitted to this wrongdoing nor has it atoned for the impacts of slavery against it's Black citizens. It's time for the U.S. to right this wrong.

On today's show Chris Lodgson & Kim Mims - founding members of California's Task Force To Study And Develop Reparations Proposals For African Americans.  Join the discussion and become informed.