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Trustee Archive
People have long proposed paying reparations to the descendants of American slaves. This plan is similar to agreements that have paid settlements to our American Indians, Japanese Americans interned during the Second World War, and Germany’s payments to Holocaust survivors. Several American cities have recently passed resolutions supporting slavery reparations. But there is considerable opposition to slavery reparations, with 68% of the public against it and only 15% in favor.
Reparation supporters claim our government owes a debt to African Americas because slavery was protected by our Constitution and slave labor was used in the construction of our nation. They also say that 90 years of Jim Crow, 60 years of separate but equal, and 35 years of racist housing policies have prevented Blacks from accumulating wealth. They claim a valid program to eliminate this Black-White wealth gap requires an allocation of between $10 trillion and $12 trillion, or about $800,000 to each eligible Black household.
Reparation opponents claim any reparations that were due these decedents have already been paid through our Civil War and 30+ years of affirmative action programs. Some entirely dismiss the case for reparations due to practical concerns, such as who would receive these financial payments, why should the current generation pay for wrongs for which they are not responsible, and how much should be paid. They also say there is no way to know who is eligible to receive benefits from reparations since not all African Americans are decedents of slaves.
Proposed Legislation: Reintroduction of H.R.40 - Commission to Study Reparation Proposals for African-Americans Act (117th Congress 2021-2022)
Prospective Sponsor: Rep. Shelia Jackson Lee (TX) |
- I oppose reforming current slavery reparations policy and wish to donate resources to the campaign committee of Speaker Kevin McCarthy (CA).
- I support establishing the Commission to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African-Americans. The commission shall examine slavery and discrimination in the colonies and the United States from 1619 to the present and recommend appropriate remedies such as:
1.) Identifying the role of federal and state governments in supporting the institution of slavery.
2.) Identifying forms of discrimination in the public and private sectors against freed slaves and their descendants.
3.) Identifying lingering negative effects of slavery on living African-Americans and society.
And wish to donate resources to the campaign committee of Rep. Shelia Jackson Lee (TX) and/or to an advocate group currently working with this issue.
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| Winning Option
»» No issues were voted |
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I support establishing the Commission to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African-Americans. The commission shall examine slavery and discrimination in the colonies and the United States from 1619 to the present and recommend appropriate remedies such as:
1.) Identifying the role of federal and state governments in supporting the institution of slavery.
2.) Identifying forms of discrimination in the public and private sectors against freed slaves and their descendants.
3.) Identifying lingering negative effects of slavery on living African-Americans and society.
And wish to donate resources to the campaign committee of Rep. Shelia Jackson Lee (TX) and/or to an advocate group currently working with this issue.
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- Representative
If elected as a trustee, the campaign committee of Rep. Shelia Jackson Lee (TX) will be unconditionally awarded the funds pledged to this issue along with a letter requesting her to favorably consider either reintroducing H.R.40 - Commission to Study Reparation Proposals for African-Americans Act (117th Congress 2021-2022), or a similar version thereof.
- American Descendants of Slavery
If elected as a trustee, the American Descendants of Slavery will be awarded the funds pledged to this issue along with a letter requesting these funds be used to work and advocate for reparations for the descendants of slaves.
About: ADOS—which stands for American Descendants of Slavery—seeks to reclaim/restore the critical national character of the African American identity and experience, one grounded in our group’s unique lineage, and which is central to our continuing struggle for social and economic justice in the United States. As a specific group with a specific justice claim, the #ADOS movement demands a specific agenda with policy prescriptions that address the losses stemming from the institution of slavery, Jim Crow, redlining, convict leasing, mass incarceration and immigration.
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- No trustee votes received.
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| Poll Opening Date |
January 23, 2023 |
| Poll Closing Date |
January 29, 2023 |
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