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Can Black reparations be made practical? A first step by one city.
David Clark Scott
The headlines proclaimed Evanston, Illinois, the 鈥渇irst US city to make reparations to Black residents.鈥澛�
Well, yes, and no.聽
The term 鈥渞eparations鈥� is often used to mean paying money to the descendants of enslaved people in the United States. But in this case, it鈥檚 about making amends for , also known as redlining.聽
Evanston officials voted Monday to distribute $10 million over the next 10 years to Black residents who suffered housing discrimination. They must either have lived in 鈥� or been a direct descendant of a Black person who lived in 鈥� Evanston from 1919 to 1969. Each qualifying household will receive up to $25,000 for home repairs, mortgage assistance, or a down payment on a mortgage. Distribution of funds will begin in the next few months.聽
The money will come mostly from taxes collected from sales of recreational marijuana and some private donations.
鈥淚t is the start,鈥� Robin Rue Simmons, an Evanston alderman, told The New York Times. 鈥淚t is the reckoning. We鈥檙e really proud as a city to be .鈥�
Several other U.S. cities are considering similar steps, including Amherst, Massachusetts;听; and Asheville, North Carolina.
Progress is often incremental. But once one runner breaks the 4-minute mile, the impossible becomes attainable (and others have now done it).聽If one community can find a way to make amends for racial injustice, can others be far behind?
