"JUST SAY YES!" SUMMER '24

Chicago Mayor Johnson announced the creation of a "Black Reparation Task Force"

June 17, 2024 At this year's Juneteenth flag raising ceremony in Daley Plaza, Mayor Brandon Johnson signed an executive order to establish a "Black Reparations Task Force", reinstating his commitment in the creation of a Black reparations agenda in the city. Mayor Johnson has allocated $500,000 of the city's budget for this task force, which members of The Illinois Reparations Coalition and Equity and Transformation will sit on. The task force "will create a definition and framework for reparations". It will also be in charge of creating a study examining policies that have caused harm to Black Chicagoans from the slavery era until present and then, based on the findings, make a series of recommendations that would satisfy reparations.

"Today's executive order is not just a public declaration. It is a pledge to shape the future of our city by confronting the legacy of inequity that has plagued Chicago for far too long" Brandon Johnson

Much gratitude goes out to Mayor Johnson for keeping his word and working with community members and advocates to help transform systems of oppression and inequity in the city. We look forward to working with his administration and seeing reparations for Black Chicagoans become a reality!

Related Article: https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/mayor/press_room/press_releases/2024/june/black-reparations-task-force.html

The Institute on Race, Power and Political Economy Releases Chicago Study that Highlights Deep Inequities and Extreme Racial Wealth Gaps in The City

As the IRC celebrated Mayor Johnsons Executive Order creating a reparations task force in the city of Chicago, Institute on Race, Power and Political Economy , released The Color of Wealth Chicago Report with some eye-opening results. The Shocking data that was collected only confirms the need for comprehensive reparations for Black Chicagoans. It examines the huge wealth divide that exists among racial and ethnic lines in Chicago and discriminatory policies and practices that have gotten us here. Check out the image below on some highlighted findings and follow this link to read the entire report: https://racepowerpolicy.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Color-of-Wealth-in-Chicago.pdf

The Color of Wealth Chicago Report is the latest installment of The Color of Wealth Series which “ focuses on assets and debts as the primary indicators of economic well-being for disaggregated and ethnic groups” in Chicago. The results from the Chicago Report were primarily derived through surveying WHITE, BLACK, MEXICAN (foreign born), MEXICAN (U.S born) and PUERTO RICAN individuals who reside in the Chicago metropolitan area.

"Wealth generates more wealth. Without access to capital, inequity is locked-in." The Institute on Race, Power and Policy

Equity and Transformation Hosts Juneteenth Celebration and Panel Discussion at The Bronzeville Winery!

June 19, 2024 Equity and Transformation hosted a Juneteenth Celebration and panel discussion featuring EAT Executive Director, Richard Wallace and Bronzeville Winery owner Eric Williams with Amara Enyia, JD, PhD moderating the conversation. Based on the newly released findings from The Color of Wealth Chicago Report, we had an in-depth conversation bringing together Black entrepreneurs and Black workers to examine opportunities to create more wealth in our communities! Thank you to everyone who came out and participated. Communities that are most impacted must be at the forefront of this fight facilitating resolutions and providing alternatives. The team at EAT was honored to have celebrated this Juneteenth in the presence of all of the Black brilliance we witnessed at the event, a brilliance that pays homage to our ancestors and will continue their fight for true Black liberation until we win.

The State of Illinois African Descent-Citizens Reparations Commission (ADCRC) Announces the First of a Series of Public Hearings

The State of Illinois African Descent-Citizens Reparations Commission has announced the first in a series of public hearings they will be hosting to discuss reparatory actions for Black Americans in Illinois who are descendants of American Chattel Slavery. The initial hearing will take place on July 13th at Kennedy-King College featuring expert speakers who will present the intergenerational impact of enslavement, racial terror, political disenfranchisement, and ongoing racial discrimination. Subsequent hearings will occur throughout Illinois. The hearing in Chicago will feature notable speakers including Chairman Fred Hampton, Jr., Dr. Daniel Davis, Dr. Peter Cole, Assistant Majority Leader Representative Kam Buckner, Paul Harper, Ed Davis IV, Ariel Denay, Karl Brinson, Christian Harris, and Marlon Watson. See the press release here

?"These public hearings are a pivotal step towards acknowledging past wrongs and promoting reconciliation and equity for Black communities in Illinois. The insights and testimonials gathered will be instrumental in developing comprehensive reparations proposals to be presented to policymakers and relevant stakeholders."

Date: Saturday, July 13, 2024 Time: 10:00 a.m. CST Location: Kennedy-King College (Theater), 740 W. 63rd St, Chicago, IL

?To RSVP and learn more about the public hearings, please visit: https://adcrc.illinois.gov/events.html.

?To learn more about the Commission, please visit: https://adcrc.illinois.gov.

EAT is Proud to Launch the Restore Fellowship to Model the Reparations Pillar of Restitution

President Biden Will Be in Chicago for the DNC to and is Looking to Secure the Black Vote but Refuses to Sign H.R.40

This August Chicago will host the DNC and President Biden will be in the city to appeal to Black voters. Here's the truth: Black voters in a city like Chicago truly have the power to decide this election. The Black vote is essential to this election,and it needs to be earned, not given away. If President Biden is wants the Black vote he needs to earn it, period. The time for Reparations is now and President Biden has H.R. 40 sitting on his desk and still refuses to act on it via executive order! As the DNC gets closer, we must find ways as a community to tell Biden, "If our demand for reparations is not met he does not have the Black vote!"

About H.r. 40 : It is The bill that establishes the Commission to Study and Develop Reparations Proposal for African Americans. The Commission would examine slavery and discrimination in the colonies and the U.S from 1619 to the present and provide recommendations to Congress for how to satisfy reparations

Check out our partners at M4BL to learn more and get involved: https://m4bl.org/policy-platforms/reparations/hr40/

Sign the Petition To Support Drug War Reparations