American Reckoning: Last year, Juneteenth officially became a federal holiday. It commemorates the day when the last enslaved Americans learned of their freedom — marking the end of slavery. But is a holiday all that the US can do to right the wrongs of history?

The Story

This weekend, people around the country will celebrate Juneteenth by supporting Black-owned businesses, attending local events, and learning more about the holiday’s significance — which gained visibility during 2020’s nationwide protests against police brutality. But some believe that the US should do more.

Are we talking about…? 

Reparations? Yes. Reminder: Slavery was a main institution of American life for more than 400 years. Shortly after it officially ended in 1865, Black Americans were subject to Jim Crow laws and policies that perpetuated segregation, racism, and disenfranchisement in nearly every aspect of life. And the few Black Americans who were able to start building wealth were often terrorized or killed (see: the Tulsa Race Massacre). The idea of reparations was once a pipe dream. But it’s picked up steam as Americans across the country have called on the federal and local governments to take action to support Black Americans. 

How would it work? 

There’s not a clear path forward yet. But options being discussed include cash, housing grants, scholarships, and baby bonds. Complicating matters is a debate over who would qualify. Some experts say anyone who can prove that their lineage traces back to formerly enslaved people should be included. But doing that research can be difficult and costly for individuals to take on. Others believe the overall toll that the legacy of slavery has had on Black Americans should be considered. 

So, where do things stand? 

People and governments are talking about reparations more than ever. While some states and officials are taking steps like setting up task forces or signing bills to act, others argue that reparations would be too expensive and complicated to take on. Plus, polls have found that a majority of Americans are still against cash reparations. Right now, here’s where things stand in the US…

• The federal government: So far, a House committee has passed a bill to create a commission to study slavery and discrimination in the US. But the House has yet to vote on it. And it's still TBD whether President Biden will intro a similar commission to study reparations via an executive order. 

• State governments: California was the first to put together a task force to study reparations and the impact of slavery on Black residents in the Golden state. They came back with several recs (think: providing free tuition, eliminating anti-Black housing policies, and more). And next year, they'll release a specific reparations report with details on logistics. In Pennsylvania and Florida, lawmakers are also working on legislation. 

• Local governments: In 2019, Evanston, IL became the first city in the US to agree to pay reparations to some of its Black residents (think: housing grants of up to $25,000 for down payments or home repairs). The city council in Asheville, NC also approved reparations (think: funding programs to up the number of homeownership and business opportunities for Black residents). Task forces in Burlington, VT and Providence, RI are studying the matter. 

• Universities: Schools across the country are also being forced to address their pasts — many were built using slave labor, and promoted research and theories that helped systemic racism continue. Five public schools in Virginia will be required to address their legacies by providing a "tangible benefit" like scholarships. And students at Brown and Georgetown (both private universities) voted to have their schools pay reparations. But little has actually been done to move that forward. 

theSkimm

Juneteenth becoming a national holiday was a positive but symbolic step. It’s been nearly two centuries since slavery ended in the US. But the effects of it are still felt. Reparations are considered to be a way to narrow the racial wealth gap that still exists in the US. And help correct the systemic policies holding back Black Americans to this day.

PS: Want to learn more about systemic racism in the US? Click here.