February 18th 2024.
In 2021, Fulton County officially established a Reparations Task Force, taking a significant step towards addressing the issue of reparations for descendants of enslaved individuals and those who lived under Jim Crow laws. This move has been long overdue, as other cities and states have already taken action on reparations, following the tragic murder of George Floyd in 2020. California, in particular, has made strides by passing the first state reparations bill in the country.
Despite these efforts at the local and state levels, there has been a lack of action on reparations at the federal level. Linda Mann, co-founder of the African American Redress Network, notes that while bills and task forces are being passed, they often lack the necessary funding to conduct proper research. This is where Fulton County stands out, as their task force has allocated a budget for administrative duties, town hall meetings, and hiring researchers to conduct thorough studies.
Karcheik Sims-Alvarado, chair of the Fulton task force and assistant professor at Morehouse College, emphasizes the importance of educating the public on the history of slavery and Jim Crow in America. This includes shedding light on lesser-known events, such as the displacement of Black residents in Macedonia Park, an all-Black community that arose after racist incidents in Forsyth County. But unfortunately, white residents in the surrounding areas were not accepting of this and pushed for legislation to dissolve the community. The Fulton County Task Force will delve deeper into this history as part of their research.
Marcus Coleman, vice chair of the task force, believes that their efforts have the potential to inspire similar initiatives in other counties across Georgia. He highlights the urgency of addressing racial inequalities and disparities, stating that the task force is only going to gain momentum from here on out. State representatives Carl Gilliard and Roger Bruce acknowledge the uphill battle in getting Republican support for reparations in Georgia, where the majority of political power lies with the Republican party. However, they remain optimistic and determined to start the dialogue and find solutions that work for everyone.
Gilliard also mentions that they have received support from at least one Republican member of the Georgia House, although he does not disclose who it is. He acknowledges that it may take time to get the state on board with their efforts, but believes that anything is possible with open and honest dialogue. It is clear that this issue will not be solved overnight, but the first step is to start the conversation and work towards a comprehensive solution that addresses the impacts of slavery and Jim Crow on Black communities.
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