NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WZTV) — There was a heated debate at the Tennessee Capitol Tuesday as members of the state House of Representatives discussed a bill that would make it illegal for city or county governments in Tennessee to consider reparations for the descendants of slaves.
Some jurisdictions have already started those conversations. House Bill 0474 ,sponsored by state Representative John Ragan, R-Oak Ridge, says local leaders cannot use tax dollars to even study the prospect of making such payments to the ancestors of slaves.
Ragan concedes slavery is a stain on American history but says reparations would only punish people who are not involved and create more resentment. It is what he said right after that that created a fire storm.
“There can never be an appropriate reason to deprive a person of their God-given right to liberty and selling them into servitude. This is true, whether the enslaver is an African monarchy or a Mexican drug cartel,” said Rep. Ragan.
“To say to anyone, local governments, individuals, you cannot, and you should not study reparations. It is ugly. For lack of a better word, it’s ugly,” said Rep. Larry Miller, D-Memphis.
Rep. Ragan’s mention of African monarchs and drug cartels drew both criticism and procedural complaints from African American lawmakers. The unrest led to this bill being pushed back in line and a recess.
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