Reparations Roundup: November 2024

Lawmakers across the country are proposing reparations to black Americans for slavery and America’s history of racial discrimination. Proposals have included direct cash payments, grants, formal apologies from the government, and government programs with race-based eligibility.  Because certain reparations proposals would inevitably advantage and disadvantage individuals based on their race and ancestry—in violation of the Constitution—PLF is tracking the development of these policies at state and local levels. See last month’s roundup here.  Here is what has happened this past month:  St. Louis makes final recommendations  After 18 months, the St. Louis Reparations Commission released its final recommendations. The Commission recommended that the standard for who would receive reparations would be lineage and race—not actual governmental harm to the recipient. For now, these recommendations seem to lack funding sources.  New York State holds first reparations meeting  As we noted in August, the State of New York kicked off its 12-month clock to issue reparations recommendations. The Commission held its first public hearing on November 12 in Buffalo and will hold its second public hearing in Queens on December 16.  Shelby County distributes $5 million  In 2023, the Shelby County, Tennessee, Commission approved $5 million to study reparations. Now, local news...