Sunny Hostin Discusses Controversy Over Reparations and Smithsonian Hearings

Discussion on Reparations During Smithsonian Hearings

Sunny Hostin, co-host of “The View,” has voiced her opinion concerning recent congressional hearings about the Smithsonian institution. Hostin and her colleagues speculated on the hearings’ motivations, suggesting they were more about avoiding financial reparations for the descendants of slaves than addressing the institution’s alleged ideological biases.

Dr. Anthea Hartig, Director of the Smithsonian National Museum of American History, answered questions from lawmakers following a White House report. The report criticized the museum as a taxpayer-funded center of “ideological capture” and “extreme political activism.” Hostin argued that these hearings aim to reshape the narrative of U.S. history to avoid reparative justice for forced Black labor during the nation’s development.

“The real reason behind this is financial repair for the descendants of enslaved Africans,” Hostin stated, clarifying to her co-host, Whoopi Goldberg, that she meant reparations. Hostin further asserted that the omission of truth and reconciliation efforts for slavery prevents genuine financial restitution.

Hostin’s Perspective on Historical Injustices

Hostin remarked on the absence of truth and reconciliation commissions concerning slavery compared to other historical injustices, such as the internment of Japanese Americans, the Holocaust, and injustices faced by Native Americans. She believes that the lack of these commissions regarding slavery is a deliberate effort to obscure historical truths, impeding reconciliation and reparations.

Hostin highlighted a past vote by the United Nations General Assembly labeling the transatlantic slave trade as “the gravest crime against humanity.” Notably, the U.S., Argentina, and Israel opposed the resolution while 123 countries supported it, with 52 countries abstaining.

Hostin criticized the stance of Ambassador Dan Negrea, the U.S. representative to the U.N. Economic and Social Council, who denied a legal right to reparations for historical wrongs not recognized as illegal under international law at their occurrence. Hostin remarked on the ongoing financial implications, suggesting intentional avoidance of reparations owed to African Americans.

Personal Reflections on Heritage

Hostin participated in the PBS documentary “Finding Your Roots,” where she discovered her familial ties to slavery. Host Henry Louis Gates Jr. revealed that Hostin’s ancestor likely participated in the slave trade in colonial Spain, with her third great-grandfather owning a human being.

Hostin, of Puerto Rican and Black descent, expressed her surprise upon learning her family’s historical connection to slaveholding. Her mother is Puerto Rican, and her father is Black. Hostin noted this history as significant but unexpected, considering her prior understanding of her heritage.

Alongside her personal reflections, Hostin discussed the shared heritage with her husband Manny’s family, noting their Spanish roots. She expressed appreciation for her children to gain historical insight despite grappling with the moral implications of their ancestors’ livelihoods.