A Fox Business Network debate on slavery reparations got intensely personal Tuesday, devolving into chaos when Fox News contributor Deroy Murdock accused fellow guest Roland Martin of “pushing collective guilt” by supporting an idea that “will tear this country apart.”
While discussing how 2020 Democratic presidential hopefuls are proposing new ideas to provide reparations to the descendants of slaves—such as tax credits or other subsidies—Fox Business host Charles Payne warned his viewers about the cost before they “jump on the bandwagon.” He then tossed to Martin and Murdock, who represented polar opposites of the debate.
Murdock, who is also a National Review writer, argued that slavery ended 154 years ago, prompting Martin to note that Jim Crow laws passed after the abolition of slavery continued well into the 1960s. Murdock contended that the Great Society programs and civil-rights laws passed in that time fully addressed such concerns.
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“You’re wrong!” Martin, a former CNN pundit, snapped back.
The conversation grew more heated and tense from there.
Murdock charged Martin with wanting “incredible acrimony and racial strife and tension like we’ve never seen before” by making “white folks who had nothing to do with slavery” pay reparations to African-Americans.
“You keep saying slavery—you can’t ignore Jim Crow!” an exasperated Martin exclaimed.
After a bit more yelling, Payne ultimately asked Martin if he believed every black person in America should be compensated. Martin answered that the issue needs to first be fully and openly examined, adding that you “can’t deal with D unless you deal with A.”
”You’re pushing collective guilt,” Murdock retorted. “Shame on you! Shame on you! It is a horrible idea that will tear this country apart!”
“You don’t know black history,“ Martin shot back at Murdock, which was met by the Fox contributor calling reparations a “disgusting idea” that will cause “total mayhem.”
“Passion on both sides,” Payne concluded.
This off-the-rails segment on such a touchy subject comes on the heels of a Fox News guest saying last week that African-Americans need to “move on” from slavery and that reparations are based on “nothing real.”
