Changing Attitude Toward Reparations

Abstract

Perspective-taking is when an individual takes the point of view of a different, marginalized, or negatively viewed group in order to facilitate an understanding towards their situation and improve the marginalized group’s social standing. Many research studies show that perspective-taking can reduce ethnic prejudice, but these scholars focus solely on the beliefs and feelings towards this group. This study will expand on this work by using the benefits of engaging with perspective-taking and applying them to not just changing the negative attitudes towards descendants of slaves but focus on changing the attitudes toward reparations as a public policy initiative. I argue that engaging in perspective-taking of slave descendants conditions attitudes on reparations.