Reparations are Past Due
By Jeremiah Chapman, Social Impact Director, Tom Steyer PAC
African descendants of chattel slavery have contributed immensely to this country’s moral and cultural leadership, economic strength, and innovation. The countless contributions and the immeasurable impact Black people have had on this nation have defined and uplifted America — and the resilience and determination of the diasporic Black community to survive and flourish against all odds is a story of hope and perseverance. That is why we must support Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee’s H.R. 40 bill, which would develop a proposal for Reparations for the institution of slavery and the impact of its forces on living African descendants of slavery.
When the American Founding Fathers spoke of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, they explicitly excluded Black people. When we speak of freedom and prosperity today, we must undo systemic racism, exclusion, and discriminatory policies through Reparations and equitable investments in Black wealth generation and prosperity. The ugly legacy of slavery, Jim Crow segregation, and legalized institutional racism have intentionally concentrated wealth and political power in the hands of white people while barring African Americans’ access to the fruits of their labor. Therefore seeking Reparations for descendants of enslaved Africans is a major part of achieving equity in America.
One lesser-known part of our history and a major reason for us to pursue Reparations is the Freedmen’s Bureau and Bank. It was the government’s initial, post Civil War means of compiling personal and financial information on newly freed enslaved persons. Everything from their address, complexion, and close relatives were reported to this newly created system that would eventually bankrupt much of Black America when it was dissolved in 1874. This is further proof that since the inception of government agencies and financial institutions, that the first government agencies meant to serve Black people were in fact a corrupt scheme to exploit their labor and hamper wealth creation.
In South Carolina, a major American slave port, Reparations means regaining ownership of lands that communities like the Geechie (Georgia Islands) and Gullah (South Carolina) people have lost over the years. In other places, it means compensation for lynched family members — grandfathers and grandmothers that the current generation will never know. While speaking to these communities, I realized that Reparations for slavery is a nuanced question that needs black-led, thoughtful solutions.
The perpetual pushback to the commission H.R. 40 would establish is often, “why do we need to study what we already know? — just cut the check!” and rightfully so. But unfortunately, it’s not that simple, we need trusted experts and advocates leading the way to determine equity for things like lives lost, wages owed, etc. The question we must answer through H.R. 40 is not simply whether Black Americans are entitled to Reparations but rather when, how, and who — something we must decide as a community through this commission.
There are varying trains of thought that H.R. 40’s commission would address on how Reparations should be allocated within “African American” communities, or rather, those that trace their history through the U.S slave trade. It is important to note that there are complexities within the African Diaspora that many may not understand. For instance, black immigrants like Nigerians, Jamaicans, and Haitians — all of which have been subject to some form of racism or colonial oppression — would quite likely fall out of the purview of those that receive Reparations from the U.S. government. There are roughly 40 million people in America that identify as “Black,” roughly 4.6 million of whom are immigrants — raising the question as to who is exactly eligible. This then leads to the question of how Reparations should be allocated — is it a one-time cash payment? Is it land? Student loan repayment? Or all of these things?
The economic case for Reparations is quite sound since white households on average have over 10 times the amount of wealth Black families have — by design. White families were given subsidies and loans for housing when the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) was created in 1934. The agency’s practices of redlining, the process of preventing Black families from buying a home in certain neighborhoods by denying mortgages or financial assistance, is another major reason for the stark economic divide. This is not often taught in our education system and leads to the American myth that all white families “lifted themselves by their bootstraps”. Home ownership is a key cornerstone to wealth generation in the United States and something that was strategically kept out of the grasp of Black Americans. It should also be noted that housing also affects access to quality education since property taxes often dictate resources allocated to schools.
Currently, Black Americans have a buying power of roughly 1.2 trillion dollars in the U.S. despite all of the financial hurdles in front of them. Further research suggests that Black buying power in the U.S is greater than the GDP of many large countries and would rank as the 16th largest economy in the world (more than Israel, Saudi Arabia, and many parts of Europe). Paying reparations would significantly increase that buying power and help grow our economy, as black consumers often drive the market in the beauty, electronics, apparel, and entertainment industries. With Black women emerging as arguably the fastest-growing group of entrepreneurs — increasing their operating budget and ability to hire more people through Reparations compensation would help stabilize our economy, and more importantly, the Black community. Reparations make financial sense and would lead to a boom in job creation and opportunities for everyone.
As this issue continues to gain mainstream support, Tom Steyer PAC is delighted to be a small part of making this a reality by supporting Congresswoman Sheila Jackson-Lee’s effort to pass this through the House of Representatives.
For me as a Black man and longtime Tom Steyer staffer, it is exciting to see that there are already over 140 members of Congress that actively support Rep. Jackson Lee’s bill. I think it gives hope to the perpetual despair Black folks feel/have felt, as well as contrasts the free society we claim to be and what we actually are. If someone can enslave, rape, beat, steal from, and kill you with little hope for justice — how free are we really?
Please take action by calling your representative in support of this bill. You can also look up whether your representative supports H.R. 40 here and sign our petition.
Reparations are past due.
