#TalkRadio – August 22 – Reparations: The Time Has Come?

SPEAKERS:

Dr. Julianne Malveaux: 12:00 PM – 12:57 PM ET
Member of the National African American Reparations Commission (NAARC), an economist, author, media contributor and educator; Dean of the new College of Ethnic Studies at California State Los Angeles; Founder and President, Economic Education, focus on learning; President Emerita of Bennett College; Her latest project MALVEAUX! On UDCTV is available on YouTube and her articles for the NAARC can be found here: https://reparationscomm.org/author/j-malveaux/

Carl Snowden: 12:00 PM – 12:57 PM ET
Founding Member of the Emmett Till Alert System; Convener of the Maryland Caucus of African American Leaders and former Director of civil rights in the Maryland Attorney General’s Office

Sheryl Davis: 12:15 PM – 12:43 PM ET
Executive Director, San Francisco Human Rights Commission 

INTRODUCTION:

The Igniting Change Radio Show on Tuesday, August 22nd, 2023, from 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM Eastern Time, entitled, “Reparations: The Time Has Come?”, will be live with Radio Show Co-Hosts and Transformative Justice Coalition (TJC) Co-Leaders Attorneys Barbara Arnwine, Esq. and Daryl Jones, Esq. and guests Dr. Julianne Malveaux, Carl Snowden, and Sheryl Davis.

The battle for reparations has become a very visible and heated debate nationwide. Distinguishing the current era from the past decades has been the success in a number of states and localities in seriously studying the feasibility of or implementation of reparations. Notably in 2019, Evanston, Illinois became the first jurisdiction to implement a reparations regimen of $25,000 for its African American residents to help purchase mortgages. This program has been expanded in 2023 to encompass other financial assistance needs. California, the nation’s most populous state, has just concluded a study with suggested recommendations for implementing reparations. The California Reparations Report, issued to the California Legislature on June 29, 2023 by the Task Force to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African Americans. Throughout the country, jurisdictions are engaging in serious reparations discussions or program implementation. 

Our show will feature guests who have been leaders in this reparations movement. Dr. Julianne Malveaux is a member of the National African American Reparations Commission (NAARC) and has testified before Congress urging the adoption of H.R. 40 and S 40, which establish the commission to study and develop reparation proposals for African-Americans. Carl Snowden held a public discussion and presentation on the Caucus of African American Leaders’ Facebook page on August 17, 2023 with the Honorable Robin Simmons, a former member of the Evanston City Council in Illinois. Ms. Simmons addressed elected officials, clergy, community activists, and citizens on the topic of reparations for Marylanders. Ms. Simmons spearheaded an effort that created reparations for people living in Evanston Illinois. Using money generated from cannabis and other revenue, citizens are now receiving reparations. You may join the discussion via the Caucus of African American Leaders Facebook page. Sheryl Davis is the Executive Director of the San Francisco Human Rights Commission, which formed San Francisco’s African American Reparations Advisory Committee, which recently released its 16 pages of recommendations. You can view their past and upcoming meetings, current recommendations, updates to African American Reparations Advisory Committee draft report, and more information here: https://sf.gov/departments/african-american-reparations-advisory-committee. 

IGNITING CHANGE WEEKLY ANNOUNCEMENTS

• Igniting Change’s weekly update on The Black Farmers’ Discrimination Fund. More info: https://thegrio.com/2023/07/07/black-farmers-usda-discrimination-financial-assistance-program/
  This show will discuss Black farmers and the Black farmers fund, from the Discrimination Financial Assistance Program which is being funded by the Inflation Reduction Act. The Inflation Reduction Act contains an assistance fund for farmers who were discriminated against. This fund has $2.2b to cover 75 million applicants and covers anyone who can provide proof that they were discriminated against by the federal government. You can only apply up to October through the 40 page application which started on July 7th. How do we best outreach to all of these farmers, particularly, Black farmers who are eligible? 

• September 20th – 24th, Gen Z and Millennial Votes Matter Training
  TJC is very happy to prepare for their next Gen Z and Millennial Votes Matter Leadership event to be held September 20th – 24th in Washington, D.C. during the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s Annual Legislative Conference for those 18-35 years old. The application deadline is fast approaching on August 24th. Apply at https://bit.ly/TJCSEPT2023. This is a paid training opportunity with a $500 stipend and round-trip all expenses paid to Washington, D.C. for the entire event. The stipend is for your attendance and completion of a work plan. There will also be assigned homework prior to the event. To receive the stipend, you must attend every day, uphold a code of conduct, and complete all assignments. The deadline to apply is August 24th, 2023, and proof of full vaccination or exemption is required. 

QUESTIONS:

SEGMENT ONE

• [Barbara and Daryl will give reminder on the Black Farmers’ Discrimination Fund and August 24th Gen Z and Millennial Votes Matter Application Deadline]
• Dr. Malveaux, please give our viewers an overview of the historic fight for reparations.
• Why do you think this issue has become so prominent at this time? What has changed?
• Julianne, what would you say are the top jurisdictions that are making progress right now for reparations?

SEGMENT TWO

• [Barbara and Daryl will give reminder on the Black Farmers’ Discrimination Fund and August 24th Gen Z and Millennial Votes Matter Application Deadline]
• Sheryl, please describe for people what is happening at the San Francisco Human Rights Commission and the African American Reparations Advisory Committee.
• Sheryl, what do you see as being the biggest accomplishments to date of the Commission and what have been the biggest hurdles?
• Carl, the Caucus of African American Leaders in Maryland just held a meeting with  the Honorable Robin Simmons, a former member of the Evanston City Council in Illinois. What were the outcomes of the meeting?
• Carl, how would you assess the reparations movement in Maryland?

SEGMENT THREE

• [Barbara and Daryl will give reminder on the Black Farmers’ Discrimination Fund and August 24th Gen Z and Millennial Votes Matter Application Deadline]
• Recent polling data shows tremendous opposition by many Americans to reparations. Tatishe “Nteta, and also the Pew Research Center, find about three-quarters or more of white adults oppose reparations, and so do a majority of Latinos and Asian Americans. A large majority of Black Americans support them. There’s also more support among younger people and a sharp political divide, with overwhelming opposition from Republicans and conservatives…Most of those he surveyed thought that today, for every $100 dollars white families have, Black families have about $90. In fact, the racial wealth gap is exponentially larger…[Yale social psychologist Michael Kraus] calls this disconnect a kind of ‘collective willful ignorance.’” Why do you think White people overwhelmingly reject the need for reparations, as do a majority of Latinos and Asian Americans?
• Why do you think a large majority of Black Americans support reparations today, especially when 30 years ago a large percentage of Black Americans didn’t support reparations? What has been changing in the Black culture?
• Sheryl, what are the next steps in San Francisco?
• Sheryl, What is the major work that you’re pursuing right now and what are your final thoughts to our listeners?
• Sheryl, Thank you for all of your hard work. How do our listeners get in contact with you?

SEGMENT FOUR

• [Barbara and Daryl will give reminder on the Black Farmers’ Discrimination Fund and August 24th Gen Z and Millennial Votes Matter Application Deadline]
• What are the next steps for reparations?
• Why do you think young people are supportive of reparations?
• [Barbara and Daryl will discuss more in depth the Gen Z and Millennial Votes Matter Training] (The next Gen Z and Millennial Votes Matter Leadership event will be held September 20th – 24th in Washington, D.C. during the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s Annual Legislative Conference. The application deadline is fast approaching on August 24th. This is a paid training opportunity with a $500 stipend and round-trip all expenses paid to Washington, D.C. for the entire event. The stipend is for your attendance and completion of a work plan. There will also be assigned homework prior to the event. You must be 18-35 years old in order to attend. To receive the stipend, you must attend every day, uphold a code of conduct, and complete all assignments. The deadline to apply is August 24th, 2023, and proof of full vaccination or exemption is required.)
• What are your final thoughts to our listeners?
• Thank you for all of your hard work. How do our listeners get in contact with you?
• [Questions for USDA about the Black Farmers’ Fund]
• On Friday, July 7th, the USDA announced this $2.2 billion fund for Black Farmers. What is this fund?
• Let’s talk about some specifics of this fund. Who is eligible?
• Let’s discuss who can apply and how can they apply to this new fund?
• How do we best outreach to all of these farmers, particularly Black farmers, who are eligible?

Final Questions to guests:

• What is the major work that you’re pursuing right now?
• What do you think is the most important grassroots organizing that you think needs to happen in order to ensure strong voter protection and engagement in November 2023 and 2024?
• What are your final thoughts to our listeners?
• Thank you for all of your hard work. How do our listeners get in contact with you?