Hundreds of U.S. communities are making reparations for slavery and colonization

The descendants of enslaved Black Americans have proposed land reparations as a means of addressing historical injustices since the Civil War. Despite resistance from politicians, research indicates an increase in municipalities engaging in reparative programs. More than 225 such initiatives have been identified, with over half focusing on land return. A prominent example is Evanston, Illinois, which in 2019 initiated the first publicly funded housing reparations program, benefitting over 200 Black residents facing historical housing discrimination. These local efforts illustrate a practical approach to confronting complex issues of racial injustice and land ownership.

"Ever since the United States government's unfulfilled promise of giving every newly freed Black American '40 acres and a mule' after the Civil War, descendants of the enslaved have repeatedly proposed the idea of redistributing land to redress the nation's legacies of slavery."

"Evanston, Illinois, launched the country's first publicly funded housing reparations program in 2019, providing down payment assistance and mortgage assistance to Black residents affected by historical discrimination."

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