The Black Informant | African American Commentary, News and Community Building

I’d be interested in learning whether the city of Manhattan Beach (or local gov’t authority) provided fair market compensation to the Af-Am families when eminent domain was exercised.

I doubt it very seriously. A close friend of mine in Chicago is in a battle with the city. Her family owns a single family home and the lot next to it. They use it as a garden and play area for the children. It is very well maintained. (great place to party in the summer). Because the city is now developing this area for the white folks that want to move back to the city. They are tring to take the property under eminent domain laws. It is unfortunate but my friend nor does her family have the kind of money that it would take put up a good fight. It is safe to say that they will lose this property thereby depricating the value of their own home affecting resale.

I’m sure there will be pressure at all government levels to NOT give out financial settlements for this case (and the one in Chicago). The powers that be do not want to set a precedence that could be used as an example in the reparations debate (or court for that matter).

I really do not think that this case is so “sophisticated” to involve government pressure from all levels. The difference between this case and that of Randall Robinson’s reparations is that relatives (if found) can actually trace their lineage to this particular Black family. The general reparations argument suggests that all Black folks are entitled to some financial payout ignoring the fact that Black folks today are not 100% full-blooded descendants of African slaves (which poses a problem with distribution).

What this case does need is more media attention and chatter from other bloggers out there. Like MIB said, I too would be interested in finding out if there was a payout given to this family, and if so how much.