Retired NFL safety Jack Brewer has criticized the California Reparations Task Force's recommendation to offer payments of up to $1.2 million to every qualifying Black resident in the state.
Brewer, who played with the Vikings, Giants, Eagles, and Cardinals, told Fox News that the reparation payments are the wrong approach to improving the lives of Black Americans. Instead, he suggested improving literacy rates, fixing the fatherlessness crisis, and returning spirituality to the home and community. Brewer argued that these measures are much more productive than allocating massive taxpayer monies.
"As we look at our real issues that we have as Black folks in America, particularly in California, you know, there's one million Blacks in L.A. County alone. And in the last report that I read, 80% of those kids in school can't read and write at proficiency level. So if you're going to talk about reparations, let's talk about reparations through education," he said.
Brewer also highlighted the fatherlessness crisis and the need to instill spirituality in children. He argued that these are the real issues facing Black communities and that social justice cannot be achieved by simply handing out checks to people. Brewer said that whenever he voices his countervailing opinion, he is branded an "Uncle Tom." However, he emphasized that he does not care about the label and that what is needed is for righteousness to be instilled back in the children.
"A God-fearing person would not sit up there and demand $4 million checks. A God-fearing person would demand for righteousness to be instilled back in the children," Brewer added, pointing to troubling Black-on-Black violent crime rates nationwide.
On Saturday, the reparations task force held a public meeting in Oakland, California, and voted on the final recommendations to be sent to the state's legislators. The nine-member panel called on the state to offer its Black residents a formal apology in addition to the payments. After attending the meeting, Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Calif., said that "reparations are not only morally justifiable, but they have the potential to address long-standing racial disparities and inequalities."
Brewer's comments come amid a growing debate over reparations for slavery and systemic racism in the United States. While some argue that reparations are necessary to address Black Americans' historical injustices, others, like Brewer, believe that the focus should be on addressing the root causes of inequality, such as education and family structure. The issue will likely remain contentious, with both sides continuing to make their case in the public sphere.
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