What's sad is that Pigday never tries making a calm argument for reparations as perpetuating victimhood - I saw some guy make such an argument on the PBS Newshour a couple days ago. I wasn't persuaded by said argument, but at least could say I was listening to a sane and reasonably calm person make their points.
As a young African-American, he felt that the harm of slavery didn't affect him directly and so didn't want to feel like he was being paid off for whatever happened to great-great grandparents. His position was that, this far downstream, the money would be unearned. My principal quibble is that, if a person honestly felt that way, they could refuse it or pass it along to a charity or struggling school district etc. And those who actually are struggling in a cycle of poverty can accept it and make good use of it.
I guess I don't believe that everyone who gets government assistance sits around dwelling on their victimhood. Most are just trying to pay rent and grocery bills and take care of their kids and find a future where they can afford a house and college and time to catch their breath. Figures show those who succeed leave the poverty cycle, as do their descendants.