Local Governments Say “The Timing Is Right For Reparations Discussions,” Amid Nationwide Unrest Surrounding Race and Oppression

Since the murder of George Floyd, racism, police brutality, and the long history of inequality in our country, have been under a microscope like never before. People can no longer ignore what 400 years of oppression has done to the black community, and cities say it’s time for reparations. USA Today reports that local officials in cities like Providence, RI, and Asheville, NC are now proposing different measures to address these injustices, ranging from resolutions to support studying reparations and proposals funneling more funds into programs for Black communities.

Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza, says that recent nationwide unrest finally brought the conversation to the forefront. “It’s always the right time to do the right thing. There is an appetite and an urgency to make the most of this moment and make sure there is real structural change that comes out of it.”

Although the idea of reparations does have support like never before, there will always be opposition, and much of the debate is over what the reparations would actually look like. There has been talk about allocating funds to programs that would uplift Black communities and even some discussion about cash payments, though that’s where most of the opposition lies. Some Senate Republicans argue that Americans alive today shouldn’t have to pay the price for their ancestors’ choices, even though black Americans are still feeling the effects of the generational trauma inflicted on theirs. It’s also important to note that no country has ever given monetary compensation to African descendants of the transatlantic slave trade. GOP members say it would be too costly and point out that determining eligibility would pose a large problem.

Despite what the government says at a federal level, local officials like Providence Councilwoman, Nirva LaFortune, and other community leaders are promising residents “truth, reconciliation and municipal reparations.” Asheville officials have also promised reparations to its Black residents. Last week the city council voted in favor of investing in marginalized Black communities. City Councilwoman Sheneika Smith said the city is discussing how to tackle things like increasing minority homeownership and access to other affordable housing; increasing minority business ownership and career opportunities; closing the gap in healthcare, education, employment, and pay; and reforming the criminal justice system. They hope to create paths to generational wealth for Black people and will map out how to fund these efforts over the next year. California and North Carolina are also working on following suit.

Elorza notes that cities can’t bear the entire burden of paying reparations to its residents and called for all levels of government to step up to the plate. William Darity, an expert and professor at Duke University, told USA Today that he believes slavery is the Federal government’s doing—so it should be up to them to right their wrongs. “The federal government is the culpable party, and as a matter of principle, should foot the bill for reparations, but the federal government also is the only entity that can meet the bill,” he said. Darity suggests using reparations as a way to eliminate the racial wealth gap between Blacks and whites. He estimates this would cost anywhere from $10 to $12 trillion.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky said he doesn’t think reparations is “a good idea,” additionally, Donald Trump has said he doesn’t see it happening. Newsweek reported Thursday that during a virtual town hall with the NAACP, Joe Biden said he’s in favor of reparations if studies show that cash payments are, in fact, a viable option. Regardless of what happens in November, though, newly elected President of the U. S. Conference of Mayors, Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer, says, “The timing is right for reparations discussions.”