Reparations Developments at the Local Level

Reparations is now widely recognized as a strategy to ensure racial equity. In fact, the federal government has commissioned studies, and corporations and municipalities have already instituted programs to redress the racial wrongs of the past. Below, please find a list of efforts to institute reparations at the state and local levels.*

See additional blogs on Reparations in Historianspeaks

U.S. Colleges and Reparations

California and Reparations

Surveys

https://reparationscomm.org/reparations-news/the-case-for-local-reparations/ https://publicintegrity.org/inside-publici/newsletters/watchdog-newsletter/reparations-gain-traction-local-levels/ https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/25/us/reparations-african-americans-usa.html https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2021/06/19/reparations-slavery-pledged-11-us-mayors-pilot-program/7753319002/ https://www.governing.com/next/reparations-emerge-as-priority-for-liberal-cities

States

State of California https://oag.ca.gov/news/press-releases/california-reparations-task-force-releases-interim-report-detailing-harms

State of Illinois https://adcrc.illinois.gov/

State of New York https://nyassembly.gov/Press/?sec=story&story=106400

State of New Jersey https://www.njreparationscouncil.org/

State of Maryland https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/HB0409

State of Florida https://www.tampabay.com/news/florida-politics/2023/02/10/education-reparations-african-american-ap-black-history/

State of Ohio https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-2743.191

State of Pennsylvania https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/PN/Public/btCheck.cfm?txtType=HTM&sessYr=1991&sessInd=0&billBody=H&billTyp=B&billNbr=2020&pn=2521

State of Massachusetts https://malegislature.gov/Bills/193/SD2393

State of Connecticut https://www.cga.ct.gov/asp/CGABillStatus/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=Bill&bill_num=SB818

State of Minnesota https://www.americanexperiment.org/100-million-reparations-bill-introduced-at-the-minnesota-legislature/

State of Virginia https://www.forbes.com/sites/susanadams/2021/02/05/virginia-house-votes-to-force-colleges-to-make-slavery-reparations/?sh=5caebbdc17d7

State of South Carolina https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2020/02/24/reparations-south-carolina-clyburn/

State of Mississippi https://www.vicksburgpost.com/2021/06/28/advocacy-group-calls-for-slavery-reparations-in-mississippi/

Cities

Tulsa, Oklahoma https://www.npr.org/2023/07/09/1186690457/tulsa-race-massacre-reparations-lawsuit

Boston, Mass. https://www.bostonglobe.com/2023/07/28/opinion/bostons-reparations-task-force-is-setting-precedent-other-states-follow-2/

Louisville, Kentucky https://spectrumnews1.com/ky/louisville/news/2021/10/15/community-member-reacts-to-reparation-resolution

Memphis, Tenn. https://www.localmemphis.com/article/news/community/shelby-county-commission-5-million-reparations-program-in-memphis/522-6f1b0464-14ad-4347-a466-a89116fca374

Amherst, Mass https://www.amherststudent.com/article/after-two-years-of-discussion-town-reparations-assembly-releases-final-report/

Evanston, Illinois https://www.cityofevanston.org/government/city-council/reparations

Jackson, Mississippi https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=246177340405830

Saint Paul, Minnesota https://www.stpaul.gov/department/city-council/city-council-reparations-efforts

San Francisco, California https://sf.gov/sites/default/files/2023-07/AARAC%20Reparations%20Final%20Report%20July%207%2C%202023.pdf

Saint Louis, Missouri https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/government/departments/mayor/news/reparations-commission-appointments.cfm#:~:text=min%20reading%20time-,Mayor%20Tishaura%20O.,the%20modern%20manifestations%20of%20injustice.

Asheville, North Carolina https://www.ashevillenc.gov/news/city-of-asheville-and-buncombe-county-community-reparations-commission-meeting-february-20-2023/

Berkeley, California https://www.berkeleyschools.net/reparations-task-force/

Fulton County, Georgia https://www.ajc.com/news/reparations-where-do-they-stand/AUBX5XAM2FGE5NEXXPEHSSVI2A/

Wilmington, Delaware https://whyy.org/articles/wilmington-city-council-names-reparations-task-force-members/

Newark, New Jersey https://www.njspotlightnews.org/2022/02/newark-municipal-council-votes-support-reparations-task-force-slavery-economic-legacy/

Detroit, Michigan https://www.michiganradio.org/social-justice/2023-04-14/a-debt-owed-not-a-handout-detroit-reparations-task-force-has-its-first-public-meeting

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania https://billypenn.com/2023/06/15/philadelphia-proposing-reparations-task-force/

South Bend, Indiana https://www.abc57.com/news/resolution-for-reparations-in-south-bend-taken-off-the-agenda-over-improper-filing