Knowing Your Triggers V

 

Some years back, drugstore chains would run newspaper ads that Afro Sheen and Ultra Sheen would be on sale during February in observance of Black History Month. 

That's always struck me as a measly attempt at creating goodwill and was glad when retailers dropped the practice -- at least for hair-care products. Walmart still hawks Nike's special line of Black History Month sneakers. Nothing says African American culture like basketball shoes, right? 

Marking down a popular commodity 20 percent or draping a product in kinte and pitching it as a celebration are uniquely devices -- but then so is a quasi-restitutional holiday. 

We're a nation that's all about commerce. Get over the sentiment about enslavement and disenfranchisement. Let's focus on dollars and cents.

And one way to move along the discussion of "full" restitution for Blacks would be to include the provision that whatever is given to African Americans would be managed by JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America and Citigroup. Turning restitution for centuries of exploitation and manipulation into a transaction would surely grease the skids.

Economic justice and equality brought to you by Well Fargo!