Americans view the prospect of reparations, or atonement for the enslavement of Black Americans, mostly negatively, according to a Pew Research Center survey from 2021. Three-in-ten U.S. adults say descendants of people enslaved in the U.S. should be repaid in some way, such as given land or money. About seven-in-ten say these descendants should not be repaid. Views of reparations for slavery vary widely by race and ethnicity, especially between Black and White Americans. Around 77% of Black adults say the descendants of people enslaved in the U.S. should be repaid in some way, while 18% of White Americans say the same. There are also notable differences by partisan affiliation. Among Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents, views are split: 48% say descendants of enslaved people should be repaid in some way, while 49% say they shouldn’t be repaid. By comparison, only 8% of Republicans and GOP leaners say these descendants should be repaid in some way, and 91% say they should not.
