Advocates for reparations are urging the federal government to issue direct cash payments to the descendants of enslaved Black Americans. They express concern that broadening eligibility to include others could weaken their cause, particularly amidst rising opposition from conservative groups and the Trump administration.
“Cash payments — they’re a small part of a larger solution, but they are essential because, without them, there’s really no reparations,” said Rev. Phyllis Coachman, who is part of the U.S. Freedmen Project. She emphasized that while slavery was abolished in 1865, the repercussions didn’t end there. “After slavery came the downfall of Reconstruction, Jim Crow laws, legal segregation, disenfranchisement, and even lynching,” she noted.
She further detailed ongoing issues, mentioning widespread racial terror, the destruction of Black-owned properties and communities, along with discrimination in housing and lending practices, which contribute to barriers in wealth building and the war on drugs leading to mass incarceration.
The U.S. Freedmen Project aims to clarify the differences between Black Americans descended from enslaved people and those who immigrated more recently. Their mission is to continue the efforts of 19th-century entities like the Freedmen’s Bureau. Supporters argue that expanded reparations initiatives may contravene constitutional principles, advocating for strict lineage-based criteria for eligibility.
As various state and local governments start exploring reparations programs for historic injustices against Black residents, Evanston, Illinois made headlines as the first U.S. city to provide direct compensation, offering up to $25,000 for homeownership grants and cash payments to eligible Black residents to address historical housing discrimination.
One advocate, Annette Wilcox, countered criticisms that label cash payments as merely handouts, claiming such rhetoric is used selectively to undermine Black claims. “People who say cash payments are handouts are missing the point. The government has given trillions in reparations to various groups,” she asserted, referencing historical compensations including those related to 9/11 and the Great Depression, which predominantly benefited white individuals.
Wilcox argued that the government has a responsibility for the harm done to Black individuals enslaved in the U.S., a responsibility similar to that exhibited toward Native Americans and other marginalized groups previously compensated.
At a recent public hearing held by the New York State Community Commission on Reparations Remedies, attendees cautioned against expanding the definition of reparations to encompass recent immigrants, fearing it could co-opt their movement. This commission was formed under legislation signed by Governor Kathy Hochul in late 2023, to assess slavery’s legacy in New York and propose potential remedies.
During the hearing, supporter Aubrey Muhammad advocated for a specific payout of $800,000 for each eligible Black American, arguing it would help address the high cost of living and support small businesses or recovery from financial stress.
Devine Prince, president of the U.S. Freedmen Project, acknowledged that suggested compensation figures reflect broader efforts to tackle the national wealth gap, yet insisted that direct payment is non-negotiable. “If you consider yourself a true American, there shouldn’t be any pushback on direct monetary compensation for the wrongs committed,” he remarked, emphasizing the need for reparations aimed at American freedmen.
