It seems to only be “free money” when it applies to Black people. I used to think reparations for Black people were unwieldy and highly unlikely so any energy devoted to reparations would be wasted. America has paid reparations to Native Americans, Japanese-Americans, white Southerners after the civil war, and rebuilt many of the countries they defeated in war. It wasn’t free money then so why now. When I look at the former and especially current laws and policies that have the effect of hurting Black people both disproportionately and intentionally, I can now see why reparations are needed.