![African American slave family representing five generations all born on the plantation of J. J. Smith, Beaufort, South Carolina.](https://ibw21.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/african-american-slave-family-south-carolina-910x512.jpg)
A direct cost of slavery is the cost of African-American life. How much is a life worth depends on a lot of personal factors. By Benny Williams, Ebony — Reparations owed to African-Americans in terms of dollars are insurmountable and nearly impossible for America to afford. No amount of money can repair the psychological damage African-Americans have experienced for centuries, and no amount of money can address the systemic racism that…