WMAL News
WASHINGTON – D.C. Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie has introduced a bill that would create a task force to study reparations and develop reparation proposals for African Americans in the District.
According to a press release from McDuffie’s office, the bill would establish a 9-member task force made up of members selected by the mayor and council. The bill would also include special consideration for reparations for African Americans who are descendants of enslaved people in the U.S.
“The notion that, with hard work, everyone born in the United States has an equal opportunity to succeed and achieve the American Dream is sadly not the case,” McDuffie said in a statement. “We do not live in a post-racial society, and racial equality has not been achieved. If ever we are going to achieve racial equity in this country, it will require official recognition of the role of government-sanctioned slavery, segregation, and other actions in denying wealth-building opportunities to Black Americans.”
McDuffie also introduced a separate bill that would declare racism a public health crisis in the District. According to the release, the bill is meant to acknowledging that disparities in education, housing, healthcare, employment, worker protections, climate, food access, technology, and our criminal justice system have disproportionately affected the District of Columbia’s African American community.
“The District of Columbia has one of the largest disparities in wealth between black and white residents of any city in the United States. Moreover, our city is one of the most racially segregated cities in the country, McDuffie said. “These statistics should convince any reasonable person of the need for this task force.”
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