Reparations advocates push for payments to Black Americans despite budget and legal challenges

by local and state governments across the country, reparations advocates face an uphill battle in some cities, yet remain hopeful.

Cincinnati NAACP President David Whitehead last week urged people not to be opposed to the term “reparation” and to be more receptive to it. 

“I think people get confused and caught up with the word ‘reparation,'” Whitehead said. “Its restoring people that have been unfairly treated.”

Whitehead’s comments coincided with city talks regarding a new reparations program. The program would offer assistance to “low-to-moderate income residents” and “any individual or family member of an individual who was prevented from buying a home due to discriminatory practices,” the Cincinnati Enquirer reported.

While Cincinnati makes progress in advancing reparations, some places face obstacles due to legal pressure or inaction.

In Santa Clara, California, the next step for reparations is unclear. 

Santa Clara officials in January approved a discussion to explore how the city could compensate Black residents for historic racist practices. 

“Santa Clara County has a responsibility to confront the harm that has been caused by government systems and policies — including impacts on African Americans here in San Jose and across our region,” County Supervisor Betty Duong said at the Jan. 22 meeting.

Lavere Foster, the associate director of the African American Community Services Agency in San Jose, told San Jose Spotlight in February that she has been waiting for the measure to appear on the agenda and would be concerned if the measure is not taken up this month.

“If we get to March, and its still not on the agenda, then Id be really concerned,” Foster said.

However, the city is currently dealing with budget woes, threatening social security services. 

“We understand that were in a time of budget cuts,” Foster told San José Spotlight. “But the goal right now isnt to ask for, say, a $10 million package.”

Foster said that San Joses vision for the reparations program is beyond strictly dollar amounts. 

“More so as a way to accumulate generational wealth. Whether thats a package around housing assistance, getting certain loans paid off or cash, were hoping to see the county study something that is actionable, that we can then follow up on,” he added.

Asheville, North Carolina’s mayor wants to pursue reparations, but matters are complicated considering legal implications and potential pushback from the Trump administration.

The U.S. Department of Justice sent a letter to Buncombe County in September threatening to investigate and take action if it approves recommendations from the Asheville-Buncombe Community Reparations Commission.

“We have a difficult landscape with this administration, unfortunately,” Mayor Esther Manheimer told BPR in an interview in February. “But we’re committed to the community to carry out the recommendations of the Reparations Commission.” 

Manheimer must overcome a primary race as she runs for re-election to a fourth term. She and her primary opponents were all part of the city council that approved the reparations measure in 2020. When BPR asked what reparations proposal Manheimer would support, she said it’s “incredibly complicated.”

“I think it would behoove us to move forward on those recommendations that we think are going to be less subject to state and federal challenge,” she explain