Alicia E. Johnson '01, president of the Black Students Association, said she supports reparations if they are motivated by a desire to increase awareness.

"If reparations like this are caused by guilt, I don't think they should be given," she said. "But if it's a historical movement, saying that we're recognizing history, we're recognizing that less than three generations ago our grandparents and relatives were slaves, and we recognize that this was a horrible offense, then reparations are called for."

Appiah said that while he does not agree completely with the idea of legislating payment to descendents of slaves, he is "entirely in favor of" discussion about the issue.

"Many Americans think racism is over and that blacks should stop complaining and get over it," Appiah said. "[Racism is] a fact, and it needs to be dealt with, and it needs to be pointed out."

"Maybe people see [reparations] as a vocabulary for articulating what needs to be said," he added.

Still, some critics of the proposed legislation are wary of the attention Ogletree and others have been attracting. Thernstrom, for example, said he believes proponents of reparations are exaggerating America's racial problems and that compensation for blacks will not materialize.

"The decision of a handful of people who write books does not make for a social trend," Thernstrom said. "I think it's highly unlikely for any action to come of this."