Evanston, Illinois, has started delivering $25,000 reparations payments to 44 Black residents as part of a historic program established to address injustices faced by Black individuals in the community.
The city of Evanston, Illinois, has taken significant measures in the reparations movement by distributing $25,000 cash payments to 44 Black residents as part of its reparations program, which was first established in 2019. The initiative was formally approved by the City Council in 2021, making Evanston the first city in the United States to offer reparations in this form. This measure aims to rectify historical injustices experienced by Black residents and their descendants who lived in the city between 1919 and 1969.
The reparations program pledges a total of $10 million over the next decade specifically targeted towards Black residents. According to Cynthia Vargas, an official from the city, these payments are intended to help cover housing expenses for the recipients, emphasizing the program's focus on alleviating some of the financial burdens resulting from systemic racial inequality. The funds for these payments have partially been sourced from Evanston's real estate transfer tax, contributing to a total of $276,588 acquired so far for the reparations fund.
As the city progresses with this initiative, Tasheik Kerr, an assistant to the city manager, indicated that the affected residents will be notified about their payments shortly. Furthermore, the committee is exploring potential additional funding sources, including taxes on Delta-8 THC products, to sustain the reparations program long-term. Evanston's actions may set a precedent and inspire other cities to consider similar reparative justice measures as discussions surrounding reparations continue to evolve across the nation.
