Examining Reparations from Three Main Sides

Adam Bashir Kalli

The article, The African Holocaust: Should Europe Pay Reparations to Africa for Colonialism and Slavery? published in the Vanderbilt Journal of Transnational Law, Ryan M. Spitzer writes about reparations in a way that looks at both law and morality. Instead of only saying yes or no to reparations, he studies the issue from three main sides, moral ideas in international law, the legal paths and difficulties, and the need to see reparations as a step toward peace rather than just money.

The first point Spitzer makes is that morality is actually what builds international law. He shows how human rights and humanitarian values have shaped big treaties and cases, including after World War I when the Holocaust victims got reparations. This puts African reparations in the same moral tradition and shows that justice is not just a legal argument but a human duty.

Second, he talks about the legal side. He explains how court cases can be blocked by rules like Act of State” and “Nonjusticiable Question. He also mentions that sovereignty and limitation laws make things harder. But he says treaty negotiations might be a more flexible way to push for reparations. Finally, Spitzer says reparations are not just about handing out money. He warns that if reparations are reduced to cash, they will not solve the bigger problem. Instead, they should lead to long-lasting peace, where there is no more blame or bitterness. This makes reparations more like a moral project about dignity and healing rather than a financial issue.

When I read this article, I liked how Spitzer brought morality into the legal side. It made me think that money and law alone cannot solve history’s wounds. I also agreed with him that reparations should stop future hatred and help people feel human again. But at the same time, I worry about the legal blocks he explained, which seem too strong to break.

In the end, Spitzer’s work helped me understand reparations in a bigger way. It mixes morality, law, and politics into one whole. For me, it shows that reparations are not just about the past but also about building a fairer and more peaceful future.