Reparations itself/themselves? is NOT the problem or the issue, really.
The U.S. of A. probably DOES owe reparations........... to some folks!
The problem is, WHO and HOW? and WHAT, too!
Freed slaves who fought for the Union Army were promised "reparations" by the Gov't, and an edict was signed by a general and (some) reparations were actually paid. For a tiny while. My historical knowledge is lacking as to what happened surrounding (both) the payments and the ceasing of the attempts at payment. There is a long history, however, of our Government signing "eternal" deals/treaties with various parties and then foresaking our oath and trashing our word and the documents when expedient. So, I'd suspect something rather unseemly happened with the "expiration" of any attempted reparation payments to former/freed slaves. One point I might add............those "payments" were for males ONLY. Not to random black folks of non-fighting age, women, children, etc.