June 21st 2023.
On Juneteenth, Democratic Missouri Representative Cori Bush took a moment to remember the legacy of slavery. She introduced a bill titled "The Reparations Now Resolution" which calls for the United States to acknowledge the lasting harms inflicted on millions of Black Americans. This resolution is a crucial step in helping to close the racial wealth gap that exists between White and Black families in the US.
The Harvard Gazette reported that the average Black household's wealth is only one-tenth of the average White household's wealth. This difference can be traced directly back to slavery. Bush's resolution initially asked for a $14 trillion payout for the descendants of those who endured chattel slavery.
But according to scholars, the United States has benefitted from over 222 million hours of unpaid labor between 1619 and 1865. This equates to a staggering $97 trillion in value today.
Bush believes that reparations are the only way forward for the country. In an MSNBC interview, she said, "America must provide reparations if we desire a prosperous future for all. This country thrived and grew through the planting and harvesting of tobacco, sugar, rice, and cotton, all from chattel slavery, and that hasn't been compensated."
It is not clear yet what the resolution's ultimate plan will be for Black Americans. It does not ask for direct payments to be made out to individuals. But there is clear language about the need to address the wealth disparities between White and Black Americans.
Bush's efforts, along with other lawmakers in Evanston, Boston, and San Francisco, are essential for bringing reparations to Black Americans. This Juneteenth, we remember the legacy of slavery and honor the work of those who are fighting for justice for the descendants of enslaved Black people.
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