Delayed vindication: Chicago city compensates African Americans for racism

A delayed (but better late than never) economic (in the form of compensation) economic justification is experienced by many African Americans, descendants of victims of racist policies in the Evanston of Illinois, its suburb Chicago.

Beneficiaries of this compensation (16 African American families who have been victims in the past racism) will take up to 21,000 euros each and will use them to buy a house or to repair the existing one. The direct funding from the local municipality is $ 400,000, but there is a ten-year plan for $ 10 million over the long term, BBC, a proposal approved by the city council, by a majority of 8 votes to one.

Right to compensation will have families with members who suffered racism during the time period 1919-1969 (or the people themselves who were affected, if they are alive). “We are excited to see the first payment of compensation, at national level, to people who have suffered in the past,” he said. Cam Howard, co-chair of the African-American National Rehabilitation Committee, the body that seeks to implement the measure nationwide.

At the national level, a bill will be passed that will introduce a compensation committee to study the issue, which already has the support of about 170 Democrats, but will not pass the Senate without the consent of the Republicans.

About 16% of Evanston’s 75,000 residents are black, and the Evanston racial equality program and compensation for blacks is an initiative of the Democratic mayor. Steven Hagerty.

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