The problem with simply “cutting a check” that is gone once you spend it, is that: 1) it gives white people a pass to continue all of their racist institutions and activity without addressing the systemic racism and discrimination; 2) they will use it as a weapon to basically say, “we paid you back” you have nothing more to complain about”. I am not opposed to “getting a check”, but I think the study is necessary to determine what other policies need to be implemented together with “the check”, to insure that the reparations are meaningful and not just cosmetic. Once that “check” is gone it’s gone, and our reality could very well remain the same. Think of all those lottery winners, athletes, etc. that go broke. We need more than “just a check”.