Community-Led Research Project Reveals What South Side Residents Want
South Side residents believe that any efforts to pay reparations to Black people should be made to individuals rather than broader community efforts, according to a report released today on the findings of a community-led research project conducted by the South Side Community Reparations Coalition (SSCRC) under the Chicago Urban League.
In 2021, the Chicago Urban League requested and received funding from the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority’s (ICJIA) Restore, Reinvest, Renew (R3) initiative to facilitate community-led research on the concept of community reparations. The League formed the SSCRC to plan and lead the project, which ultimately focuses on how reparations should be implemented in communities negatively impacted by the War on Drugs. The project focused on 10 predominantly Black South Side communities:
Douglas, Englewood, Fuller Park, Grand Boulevard, Greater Grand Crossing, Oakland, South Shore, Washington Park, West Englewood, and Woodlawn
“As conversations around reparations were growing louder in 2020 and 2021, we wanted to use the opportunity presented by the R3 funds to get input from residents of many of the communities that we serve,” said Karen Freeman-Wilson, President and CEO of the Chicago Urban League. “This research and the resulting report were led by community residents and provides insights on how some people think about reparations in relation to their own lives and needs.”
The SSCRC researchers presented surveys and held meetings with communities that aligned with five ICJIA rubric criteria including: civil legal aid, community economic development, reentry, violence prevention, and youth development.
While there was not a consensus on how reparations should be defined, the overall finding of the research was that reparations should be for individuals and that reparations for Black Chicagoans should go beyond addressing the impact of the War on Drugs.
The report outlined the following policy recommendations based on community input:
- Integration of Truth and Reconciliation Work: To authentically foster repair, truth and reconciliation work must be seamlessly integrated into all R3-funded projects. Such restorative practices should be applicable in violence prevention, youth initiatives, reentry programs, economic development, and civil legal aid endeavors. To enforce this commitment, the R3 grant should stipulate that all programs in South Side Chicago allocate dedicated funds for truth and reconciliation work.
- Long-Term Investments for Sustainable Programming: A sustained, ongoing commitment is crucial for effective repair efforts. Long-term investments should form the bedrock, ensuring that programs remain resilient and impactful over time.
- Education on Civil Rights Abuses: A comprehensive educational approach is recommended, incorporating lessons on the civil rights abuses of the 20th century and the War on Drugs into school curricula. From Chicago Public Schools to City Colleges, a curriculum mirroring the Chicago Torture Justice Center’s educational framework should be implemented. This will cultivate an understanding of the enduring legacy of structural racism in Chicago.
- Public Memorial for Black Chicagoans: A proposed public memorial dedicated to Black Chicagoans should acknowledge both the structural violence they endured and the remarkable achievements they accomplished in the face of adversity.
- Public Acknowledgment and Apology: The SSCRC advocates for a public acknowledgment and apology from the City of Chicago, delivered by the mayor, chief of police, and other city officials. This apology should recognize past harms during slavery, Jim Crow, the great migration, race riots, and the War on Drugs.
- Institutional Acknowledgment of Harms: Institutions are strongly encouraged to acknowledge, apologize for, and commit to addressing the harm they have inflicted on Black communities. This encompasses demonstrating accountability for ongoing structural harm. Emphasis is placed on supporting community benefits agreements with organizations on the South Side.
- Chicago Truth & Reconciliation Center: The proposal for a Truth & Reconciliation Center, akin to the Chicago Torture Justice Center, is put forth. Functioning as both a museum and an educational hub, this center would enlighten visitors about the impact of the War on Drugs on Chicago residents and the systemic injustices faced by Black individuals. The center should host programming centered around truth and reconciliation.
- Guaranteed Income Programs: As a measure toward restitution, guaranteed income programs are recommended for all African Americans residing in historically underserved communities in Chicago. Special attention should be directed towards formerly incarcerated individuals re-entering society, particularly those victimized by the War on Drugs. Research and pilot programs should holistically address the most marginalized needs.
To read an executive summary of the report, visit: https://chiul.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Reparations-Report-Exec-Summary-2.pdf
