Benedict Cumberbatch's Family Could Face Reparations Fight in Barbados

[Zorro]

After becoming a republic in 2021, the Barbados government has begun to seek reparations from wealthy descendants of former enslavers.

Oscar-nominated actor and Sherlock star Benedict Cumberbatch has come under a magnifying glass himself—by the Barbados government.

The 12 Years a Slave actor and his family may be facing a financial squeeze from Barbados in the coming months, as government officials are beginning to seek reparations from former plantation-owning families. After officially becoming a republic in 2021—breaking 396 years of the British monarchy’s control over the island—Barbados government officials have begun to seek reparations from the descendants of onetime slave-owning families and plantation holders.

Cumberbatch’s seventh great-grandfather bought the country’s Cleland plantation on the north side of the island in 1728, and held ownership of it until slavery was abolished in Barbados in 1834. The Cleland plantation is said to have been home to 250 enslaved people and been the source of the Cumberbatch family’s small fortune.

Last month, the Barbados government announced its plans to pursue reparations from conservative member of the British Parliament Richard Drax, who inherited the island’s largest plantation, Drax Hall. The sugar plantation on the south side of the island is the only plantation that remains within the family of its original owners. Barbados officials have been putting the heat on Drax to hand the land back to the government. If Drax refuses, Barbados will push for compensation from an international arbitration court.

https://www.thedailybeast.com/benedict-cumberbatchs-family-could-face-slavery-reparations-fight-in-barbados

[Turbineguy]

1. Easy money.

[Retrograde]

2. Corruption of blood

the concept that children are responsible for the sins of their parents is one of the things the writers of the US Constitution were against, at least wrt treason.

So how does the generational guilt get parceled out? Equally among all descendants? Pro-rated by the amount they inherited? What about descendants in the female lines, who often did not inherit from their parents? Or should just the people who have money today pay - which is why Drax and Cumberbatch are currently targeted?

Ta-Nehisi Coates has better arguments for reparations, based on current and recent injustices than on what someone "inherited".

[treestar]

4. Yeah, it's a terrible idea

there's no way to do it fairly, even on a tiny island nation like that. And his wealth due to movie earnings should have nothing to do with it. It's from his own personal talent and is not related to owning the land.

[BannonsLiver]

3. Yeah seems perfectly reasonable

[Dr. Strange]

5. It's his fault.

He had the time stone. He could have gone back in time and fixed what his family did.

But he refused to do anything. And now must pay the price.

[malaise]

6. Been following with much interest

Drax had several interests here

[SickOfTheOnePct]

7. Dumb idea n/t