Five years after Ta-nehisi Coates wrote the same-titled article for the Atlantic, David Brooks concedes his point. Identifying several ways in which American slavery can be regarded as sinful and unique, he says, “Slavery doesn’t merely cause pain and suffering to the slave. It is a corruption that infects the whole society. It is a collective debt that will have to be paid. . . . From these thoughts we can appreciate the truth that while there have been many types of discrimination in our history, the African-American (and the Native American) experiences are unique and different. Theirs are not immigrant experiences but involve a moral injury that simply isn’t there for other groups.” To read his full column, click here.
