New York lawmakers pass bill that considers reparations for slavery

A bill paving the way for a reparations commission has been approved by New York’s state Legislature. The commission would investigate and address the persistent repercussions of slavery.

Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages emphasized the need to confront the historical legacy and lingering impact of slavery. “This is about initiating the healing process in our communities. We are still grappling with intergenerational trauma. This is just a single stride forward,” she expressed during the pre-debate.

The state Assembly gave the green light to the bill after a lively three-hour discussion. Later that day, the state Senate ratified the bill, which will now head to Governor Kathy Hochul for review.

New York takes inspiration from California, the pioneering state that established a reparations task force in 2020. The task force suggested an official apology for the state’s history of racial discrimination and biased policies and proposed the establishment of an agency to cater to a broad spectrum of services for Black residents. However, they refrained from proposing specific reparations amounts.

The New York bill proposes a commission to scrutinize the role of both federal and state governments in upholding slavery and to delve into the economic, political, and educational disparities plaguing Black residents in the state today.

As per the bill, the first African slaves arrived around the 1620s at the southernmost tip of Manhattan Island, then a Dutch settlement, contributing significantly to New York City’s infrastructure. Despite the state Legislature passing a statute in 1817 granting freedom to enslaved Africans in New York, the enactment didn’t take effect until a decade later.

However, not all voices were in favor of the bill. Republican Assemblymember Andy Gooddell, a bill opponent, expressed concerns during debates, saying, “We are potentially reopening a chapter that was closed nearly 200 years ago in New York State.” Gooddell stressed his support for ongoing equal opportunity efforts and recommended staying on that course instead of shifting focus to reparations.

Referencing the report by California’s reparations task force, the state is estimated to owe over $500 billion as a result of prolonged over-policing, mass incarceration, and redlining, which prevented Black families from accessing loans and residing in particular neighborhoods. Thus, reparations in New York may also entail a substantial financial commitment.

The commission would be mandated to provide a report one year after their inaugural meeting. The recommendations, potentially encompassing financial reparations for Black residents, would not be obligatory. The legislature would not be obligated to put these recommendations to a vote.

New York Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, the first Black person to hold the post, hailed the bill as “historic.” Heastie, the governor, and the state Senate’s legislative leader would each assign three eligible individuals to the commission.

Other states, including New Jersey and Vermont, have contemplated studying reparations but have not yet passed relevant legislation. In 2021, a suburb in Evanston, Illinois, became the first city to provide reparations to Black inhabitants through a $10 million housing scheme.

Meanwhile, a long-standing federal proposal to institute a reparations commission has hit a roadblock in Congress.

Despite the good intentions, critics argue that reparations at the state level can be ill-advised. Duke University’s William Darity, a public policy and African and African American Studies professor, even believes the term “reparations” is “presumptuous,” given the challenge for states to manage potential substantial payouts. He maintains that the federal government, with its financial resources, should take responsibility for true reparations.

Darity voiced a deep-seated concern that these fragmented initiatives could actually hinder federal action. “There will be individuals claiming there’s no necessity for a federal program. Sett

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about New York Reparations Bill

More about New York Reparations Bill

• New York State Legislature
• California’s Reparations Task Force
• Historical Background of Slavery in New York
• Effects of Slavery on African Americans
• Evanston’s Reparations Initiative
• Federal Reparations Proposal