Exploitation in the Funeral Industry: The Burial and the Case for Reparations

The penultimate episode of the podcast series discusses Tana Hesley Coates' essay, 'The Case for Reparations.' The essay explores the interconnection between race and systematic exploitation, focusing on examples such as the film 'The Burial' and the subprime mortgage crisis. Coates uncovers the historical continuity of racial discrimination and economic exploitation in America, highlighting the divergence in life chances and opportunities between black and white Americans. He challenges common arguments such as improving family structure or implementing universal poverty reduction programs as solutions, emphasizing the need for reparations as a means of compensating for the systemic injustice experienced by black Americans. Coates argues for financial resources to provide protection and choices, disrupting the path of least resistance for exploiters. The essay does not moralize, but presents a sharp, focused argument for restitution and dismantling systemic exploitation.