Boston Activists Demand Reparations, Stirring Debate in Chicago

A Chicago pastor has criticized Boston activists' push for "white churches" to pay reparations to the Black community, calling it "absurd" and an attempt to capitalize on "people's shame and guilt." Meanwhile, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has announced a reparations task force aimed at addressing historical injustices against Black people in the city.

The debate over reparations for slavery and racial injustice has reignited in the United States, with activists in Boston demanding "white churches" pay reparations to the city's Black community. However, Chicago Pastor Corey Brooks has denounced the Boston movement as "absurd" and a tactic to exploit "people's shame and guilt."

Amidst the controversy, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has announced the creation of a reparations task force and agenda aimed at addressing historical injustices against Black people in the United States. The task force will develop a definition and framework for reparations, which would be delivered in the form of improvements in housing, education, jobs, and criminal justice.

Boston Activists Demand Reparations, Stirring Debate in Chicago

The group will also conduct a study to catalog policies that have harmed African Americans in Chicago, including controversial real estate practices like redlining and restrictive covenants. "Reparations will be an investment in our neighborhoods and our people," Johnson said during a Juneteenth celebration. "It will unlock the doors of prosperity to fully flow through the neighborhoods that have been disinvested in for decades...we must never forget our goal to make sure reparations become a reality for Black residents of this city."

The City Council's Black Caucus will participate in the task force hearings and recommendations. Alderman Nick Sposato, a critic of Johnson, argued that the planned $500,000 to fund the task force could be better spent elsewhere. "It's too divisive, it's going to divide us even more," Sposato said. "I don't know what the fairness about it would be. Maybe the report will say it's unnecessary, but I highly doubt that."

Boston Activists Demand Reparations, Stirring Debate in Chicago

Reparations has been a thorny subject as some cities have tried to create a pathway for the descendants of Black slaves to collect compensation for the free labor of their ancestors. During his speech, Johnson said Chicago still bears the scars of "systemic racism and injustices that have been inflicted on our communities."

"We've seen them in highways that cut through Black neighborhoods and the industries that, of course, flock to these neighborhoods and often contribute to increased pollution and poor health outcomes," he said. "The disinvestment in our community has been intentional," he added.

Boston Activists Demand Reparations, Stirring Debate in Chicago

Alderwoman Stephanie Coleman hailed the reparations initiative as a significant step forward. "I am thankful to the Johnson Administration for its continued support and commitment to addressing the deep wounds inflicted by centuries of injustice against the Black community," Coleman said. "We will not be ashamed of who we are, and what we have overcome."

The debate over reparations is likely to continue in Chicago and other cities across the United States. Some supporters argue that it is a necessary step to address the legacy of slavery and racial injustice, while critics contend that it is divisive and impractical. The task force's findings and recommendations will provide valuable insights into this complex and contentious issue.

Boston Activists Demand Reparations, Stirring Debate in Chicago