The fight for reparations has been a long one dating back to the late 1800s. The movement was led by Callie House, formerly enslaved, and leader of the National Ex-Slave Mutual Relief, Bounty, and Pension Association.
House and her organization sued the federal government in 1915 for reparations. House was imprisoned and charged with mail fraud shortly after for using her organization to even mention reparations.
Since the time of House’s fight for reparations, pushback against slavery restitution remains. However, there are a wealth of modern activist groups carrying the reparations torch today. They understand the depths of the injustices our people continue to face. They understand we need real restitution.
The government’s solution to this systemic issue is to first decide if it is even worth it to investigate the effects of slavery through the power of multiple bills that have failed to pass.
This country owes Black Americans for the pain and suffering of our enslaved ancestors and the systemic effects today that are a direct result of America’s greatest sin - enslavement. Justice is owed to us in many forms, and we need to keep pushing the issue.