It’s 2020, and we are finally starting to get what is owed to us. This week, the Asheville, North Carolina City Council unanimously voted to give its Black residents reparations.
While they won’t be made as direct payments to citizens, the reparations will come as investments in Black communities around the city.
“Hundreds of years of Black blood spilled that basically fills the cup we drink from today,” said Councilman Keith Young, the primary advocate for the measure and one of two Black people on the City Council. “It is simply not enough to remove statues. Black people in this country are dealing with issues that are systemic in nature.”
In addition to the vote, the council members issued an apology for Asheville’s participation in enslaving Africans as well as for their part in destroying established Black communities for the sake of urban renewal.
“The resulting budgetary and programmatic priorities may include but not be limited to increasing minority home ownership and access to other affordable housing, increasing minority business ownership and career opportunities, strategies to grow equity and generational wealth, closing the gaps in health care, education, employment and pay, neighborhood safety and fairness within criminal justice,” the resolution stated.
To get the ball rolling, the city will establish a Community Reparations Commission. It is also the hope from supporters to get county commissioners on board as well.
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