A Slavery Reparations Series Article by Tia Simmons
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul holds up signed legislation creating a commission for the study of reparations in New York. Photo: Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images
Just this past week, nine individuals were appointed to serve as members of New York State’s Community Commission on Reparations Remedies, a commission tasked with researching the impact of slavery and other forms of systemic discrimination on African Americans in New York and if that impact has lasted throughout modern society, as well as to make recommendations on ways the state can attempt to remedy the harms New York blacks have suffered. The report and final recommendations are due to be delivered to the governor and state lawmakers in one year. This all comes hot on the heels of California’s legislation to begin reparation initiatives and, truly, it’s not a surprise that New York should follow suit, although they abolished slavery in the 19th century. The commission is part of a recent bill sponsored by Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages (D-Hicksville). Governor Kathy Hochul signed that bill into law on Dec. 19, 2023.
The state announced the following appointees as commission members:
Jennifer Jones Austin, CEO of the Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies
Timothy R. Hogues, commissioner for the Department of Civil Service and president of the Civil Service Commission
Linda Brown-Robinson, immediate past president of the Syracuse Onondaga NAACP
Darrick Hamilton, Ph.D., Henry Cohen Professor of Economics and Urban Policy at The New School
Linda Tarrant-Reid, author, historian, freelance journalist, photographer, and community activist
Seanelle Hawkins, president and CEO of the Urban League of Rochester
Dr. Ron Daniels, founder and president of the Institute of the Black World 21st Century
Lurie Daniel Favors, Esq., executive director of the Center for Law and Social Justice at Medgar Evers College
Rev. Dr. Deborah D. Jenkins, founding pastor of Faith @ Work Christian Church, Coop City
One interesting fact about the commission is that all nine of the appointed members are black individuals. Dr. Ron Daniels has been an outspoken advocate for reparations initiatives, and others are expressly supportive of measures such as the ones ongoing in California. Whatever the outcome is, one thing we know for certain. This marks the beginning of what will be a long road to completion in New York. We here at BLACK are closely following these situations and will keep you updated as information becomes available.
Up next, we will be examining other cities that have followed Evanston’s lead:
In 2020, the city council of Burlington, Vermont, voted in a resolution to create a task force to study possible reparations for the state’s involvement in the slave trade.
The city council of High Point, North Carolina, followed in 2022 by establishing a commission to study the history of racial injustice in the city and recommend reparative actions.
We will also take a look at a few municipalities that are considering following suit:
“This is no longer a niche conversation. This is something that we have to do,”says New York State Rep. Michaelle C. Solages (D), and she couldn’t have put it better. With so many governments deciding to tackle this long overdue issue and being brave enough to face the difficult discussions to come, the national government will soon be left with no choice but to look into making reparations on the federal level or be left holding the bag.
“Past and present discriminatory policy not only harms Black New Yorkers at home, but also leaves lasting damage which remains even when we move abroad. No matter where we reside on Earth, Black New York voters and our allies will continue to push the Empire State to become a beacon of reparative justice. The world is watching as we embark on this historic journey together.”
– Antar Keith, Chair of the Democrats Abroad Reparations Task Force
The world is watching. Let’s get it right this time.
References
Contreras, R. (2024). Movement to study reparations grows as New York starts commission (axios.com)
New York Post. (2024). New York’s racial reparations idiocy (msn.com)
About the Author:
Tia is an investigative journalist here at BLACK. She holds degrees in Political Science and Applied Economics from SNHU and she is a first-year law student at Purdue Global Law School, pursuing her J.D. She also has a certification in Human Rights from Wassmuth Center for Human Rights in Boise Idaho and she recently interned for the Office of Budget and Entitlement Policy at Cato Institute in Washington, D.C. Tia is a RESULTS 2024 Organizing and Advocacy Fellow and Outreach and Partnerships Coordinator. She lives with her husband and three children in Hurricane, West Virginia.
In her free time, she enjoys contemporary art, fashion, home décor, reading, and family. Tia is passionate about protecting American consumers and corporations and is a strong proponent for open markets, human rights, and equality for all. Her current focus is slavery reparations, entitlement program solvency, and budget appropriations process reform. While Tia is not black, she supports the fight for equality and stands with BLM. She believes that unearned privilege creates a duty to act against racial inequality and injustices.
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