U.S. Freedmen Project, a grassroots organization advocating for reparations, expressed concerns regarding New York state officials delaying a critical study on historic remedies. The organization does not expect financial compensation forthcoming.
Devine Prince, the President of the U.S. Freedmen Project, critiqued the mainstream reparations movement. He stated, “What the mainstream reparations movement is really about is spinning your wheels until [those] to whom the debt is owed tire out, give up, and give in.” The organization distinguishes between African Americans descended from enslaved people in the U.S. and voluntary immigrants from Africa and the Caribbean.
The U.S. Freedmen Project criticized delays from New York’s reparations commission.
Recent criticism emerged following the extension of New York State Community Commission on Reparations Remedies’ deadline. A state budget provision postponed its final report by two years, shifting it from 2027 to 2029.
The New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU) publicly expressed dissatisfaction. Chantelle Williams, from NYCLU, remarked that prolonging action on reparations concerns when Black individuals and communities persistently face discrimination.
The commission, established in 2023 by Governor Kathy Hochul, investigates New York’s ties to historical injustices like slavery, Jim Crow-era practices, and economic disparities. It concluded statewide public hearings with a forum titled “From Extraction to Repair: Closing the Racial Wealth Gap” in Harlem on May 30.
Legislators delayed the commission’s deadline, citing shifting national legal challenges against race-conscious policies. The budget also included provisions shielding commissioners from personal legal liabilities.
The U.S. Freedmen Project, present at the Harlem hearing, opposed the delay and the commission’s broad race-based reparations framework. They argue that reparations should focus on direct descendants of enslaved individuals in the U.S.
Prince criticized the commission’s composition, suggesting it maintains the status quo rather than effect real change. He emphasized, “These are individuals put in place to keep the status quo intact while pretending they’re working to undo it.”
Supporters believe any reparations bill based on race violates the Equal Protection Clause of the U.S. Constitution. They advocate for strict lineage-based criteria to reduce legal challenges.
New York’s efforts are part of a larger trend among blue states exploring local reparative measures. Evanston, Illinois, was the first U.S. city offering $25,000 housing grants to eligible Black residents as reparations.
Despite efforts and research, Prince doubts New York State will make reparations payments to descendants, stating, “Realistically, I’m expecting the same thing that I expected going into this: nothing.”