By: Nehemiah Frank
The Black Wall Street Times
https://theblackwallsttimes.com/
WASHINGTON, D.C. – As Black History Month unfolds, the Black lawmakers reintroduce HR 40. The bill would create a federal commission to study slavery’s impact and develop reparations proposals. Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) picked up the fight after the late Sheila Jackson Lee championed the cause for years.
“Today, I’m deeply honored to reintroduce HR 40, historic legislation to establish a federal commission to examine the lasting legacy of slavery and to develop reparations proposals for Descendants of enslaved Africans,” Rep. Pressely said during the press conference.
Congressman John Conyers, a founding member of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), first introduced HR 40 in 1969, championing the fight for reparations. Conyers reintroduced the bill every congressional session until his retirement in 2017, laying the groundwork for today’s ongoing push for reparative justice.
Black Lawmakers Confront the Legacy of Slavery Through HR 40
For over 400 years, Black Americans have endured systemic oppression. Congresswoman Erica Lee Carter, daughter of the late Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, reminded the crowd.
“HR 40 is long overdue and even more necessary under this administration, as hate is fomented, discrimination is promoted, and code words are used to bring out the worst in our fellow Americans,” Lee Carter stated.
Notably, many Republicans argue today’s generation should not pay for past injustices.
Rep. Pressely says education about HR 40 is essential and that too many misunderstand that proposed legislation as a simply financial payout. Instead, it establishes a federal commission to examine slavery’s legacy and develop reparations proposals.
“The commission would be 15 members, three members appointed by the President, three members appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, three members appointed by the president pro tem of the Senate, and then six members shall be experts on racial justice, economics, civil rights, reparative justice and related fields,” Rep. Pressley said.
Momentum Grows Nationwide, Including Tulsa and Evanston
While HR 40 faces hurdles in Congress, local governments are acting. Evanston, Illinois, made history by launching the first U.S. reparations program. The city allocated $16 million for housing assistance to Black residents.
Congresswoman Latifah Simon linked Tulsa’s past to the reparations movement. “I come from Betty Lavar, whose family owned 19 businesses burned down during the Tulsa Massacre,” she said. “We are Tulsa people.”
Tulsa, the site of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, remains central to reparations talks. Survivors and descendants demand compensation for stolen wealth. Beyond Apology and Project Greenwood have both introduced reparation proposals in Tulsa.
“This is happening nationwide,” Jackson stated. “Over 100 localities across America are picking this up. Now it’s time for the federal government to act.”
“This next phase that Miss Ayanna Pressley is carrying forward, starting Evanston repairs already being redressed. They’ve dispersed over $16 million in the city of Evanston, Illinois and other cities are now being able to model that same sort of legislation. So I think Robin Simmons and others in Evanston and they’re setting the path. And now other companies are communities are coming forward,”
The case for reparations is economic as well as moral. The racial wealth gap remains massive. Pressley highlighted Boston’s wealth disparity: “Black families have just $8 in net worth, while white families have $247,500.”
She pointed out that government policies created these disparities. “Our government has a moral and legal obligation to right these wrongs,” she said.
Fighting Back Against DEI Rollback
As the reparations movement gains momentum, opposition grows stronger. Black history faces erasure at all levels. Congresswoman Yvette Clarke, Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, condemned these attacks.
“Diversity means everyone,” Clarke stated. “When they fight against DEI, they’re working to resegregate society. If they’re emboldened in white supremacy, we must be unapologetically Black.”
Moreover, Rep. Pressley took the time to educate the press and viewers on the meaning of DEI, a frequent target of Republican lawmakers: “Diversity means everybody. So that means black folks, Latinos, API disabled people, veterans, rural folk, and women. Diversity means everyone, right? So, diversity and equity and opportunity and an inclusion in the American dream. So if they are working actively to dismantle and to defund Diversity Equity and Inclusion initiatives across all agencies that have nothing to do with meritocracy, this is just an attempt to resegregate society.”
With History Under Attack, Black Lawmakers Rally
Despite challenges, Black lawmakers urge communities to stay engaged. Pressley emphasized HR 40 is just the beginning. “This isn’t just about Black people,” she said. “This is about truth, reconciliation, and healing for the entire country.”
HR 40 is the most ambitious federal attempt to address slavery’s impact. Local efforts, including Tulsa’s, continue to gain ground. Black lawmakers remain steadfast in their fight for justice. The erasure of Black history has intensified since Trump first took office in 2016 and continues during his second term in office.
Despite resistance, Black lawmakers are urging communities to stay engaged. Pressley emphasized that HR 40 is only the beginning and encouraged Americans of all backgrounds to join the fight for racial justice.
“We are at a critical inflection point in America, and the moment cannot be more urgent. With Black History under attack and white supremacy emboldened, there is no better time to introduce this bill than during Black History Month—a time when we reflect on our history, our struggle, and our collective power,” Rep. Pressley added.
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