Bill would create committee to look into reparations in Maryland

Are Maryland’s African American residents owed reparations?The question is moving through Maryland’s General Assembly during the current legislative session. Both the House and Senate bills are in their respective committees.The bill would establish a committee to examine how reparations would work. The committee would look at the periods of Reconstruction from 1865 to 1965. Then, the committee would share its recommendations with the state.Establishing a committee is different from how other states are approaching the same question.”Rather than trying to come up with a number and dividing it among individuals, it’s really taking a more systematic approach and just understanding across the state of Maryland, for Marylanders, where have the rights and privileges been denied, or access to loans or any number of things,” said Baltimore City and Baltimore County Sen. Mary Washington, D-District 43.The caucus also addressed Friday’s 24-hour economic blackout.The People’s Union USA asked Americans to not spend money for 24 hours, including at places like Amazon, Walmart, Target and fast food restaurants.The protest is in opposition to the rollback of DEI programs.The Legislative Black Caucus addressed the boycott.”In the past, people have bought where they were respected. And if they felt that they weren’t respected, their dollars...