Honoring Sheila Jackson Lee: The Case For A Reparations Commission
How Sheila Jackson Lee championed the fight for equality, and how we can continue her vision.
Shiela Jackson Lee was known for many accomplishments throughout her long career in Congress. Today, I want to talk about something that Jackson Lee wanted and pushed for several years but never accomplished getting signed into law: a commission to study reparations as a means of healing and justice, as well as acknowledging the historical significance and the ongoing disparities Black Americans face.
As voters and citizens of the United States, no matter what your race or political affiliation, reparations should be seen as a moral responsibility to acknowledge and address the historical injustices and systemic racism faced by Black Americans due to slavery, segregation, and discrimination.
Listen to Sheila Jackson Lee only earlier this year speaking on reparations:
HR 40, introduced by Sheila Jackson Lee, wasn’t a bill to distribute reparations but to form a commission to study them.
What did HR 40 do?
HR 40 aimed to address the historical injustices of slavery and subsequent racial discrimination against Black Americans by establishing a commission to study and consider a national apology and reparations for the legacy of slavery and its ongoing impact.
The 13-member commission would be tasked with gathering and synthesizing evidence related to slavery, examining the roles of federal and state governments in supporting slavery and subsequent discrimination, exploring various forms of post-slavery discrimination, and assessing the ongoing negative impacts on living Black Americans and society at large.
The commission would recommend educational initiatives and appropriate remedies, including possible forms of compensation, rehabilitation, and restitution.
Further reading:
The Reparations Commission was something that Sheila Jackson Lee stood firmly behind in her last years of life.
Senator Cory Book reintroduced this bill in the 118th Congress.
The legacy of inequality and the need for reparations.
The enduring legacy of slavery, segregation, and systemic discrimination has left deep scars on Black communities in the United States. These historical injustices have contributed to significant disparities in wealth, education, health, and criminal justice.
For example:
Racial Wealth Gap: Black families have a median wealth of $24,100 compared to $188,200 for white families, highlighting a vast disparity.
Educational Disparities: Schools serving predominantly Black and Hispanic students receive $23 billion less in funding than schools serving predominantly white students.
Health Disparities: Black Americans are 1.5 times more likely to be uninsured than white Americans.
Criminal Justice Disparities: Black Americans are incarcerated at more than five times the rate of white Americans.
Homeownership: The homeownership rate for Black Americans is 44.1%, compared to 74.5% for white Americans.
Educational Attainment: Only 26.1% of Black adults hold a bachelor’s degree or higher, compared to 40.0% of white adults.
Maternal Mortality: Black women are three to four times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women.
Police Violence: Black Americans are disproportionately affected by police violence, being three times more likely to be killed by police than white Americans.
Food Insecurity: Black households experience food insecurity at a rate of 19.1%, compared to 7.9% for white households.
This is the legacy of slavery and white supremacy in America.
Reparations are not merely about financial compensation; they represent a comprehensive approach to healing and justice. Establishing a commission to study and develop proposals for reparations is a crucial step toward acknowledging these systemic issues and proposing actionable remedies. Reparations can include financial compensation, educational and economic opportunities, healthcare improvements, and systemic reforms to address ongoing discrimination.
The Importance of Addressing Historical Injustices
Understanding and addressing the historical context of these injustices is essential. The failure of Reconstruction, the implementation of Black Codes and Jim Crow laws, and the perpetuation of white supremacy through systemic practices have all contributed to the present-day disparities faced by Black Americans. These historical actions were not isolated events but part of a broader system of oppression that continues to affect generations.
Supporting reparations is a matter of justice for Black Americans and a way to foster a more equitable and just society for all. When we address the root causes of inequality, we create a stronger, more inclusive community. This process requires a national acknowledgment of the harm done and a commitment to meaningful change.
Conservatives will argue that slavery was over 150 years ago, and it’s problematic to hold current generations responsible for their ancestors’ actions.
However, systematic racism continues in the United States in nearly all aspects of our society. The impacts of this generation’s ancestors continue to impact Black Americans today. We have a collective responsibility to address and rectify these enduring injustices.
As Texans and Americans, it is our moral responsibility to support the establishment of a commission to study reparations. We can take a significant step towards addressing the long-lasting impacts of slavery and systemic racism. This commission can thoroughly examine the issues and propose practical solutions to promote healing and justice.
Supporting reparations is more than correcting past wrongs; it is about building a future where all Americans can thrive. It is about creating opportunities for those who have been historically marginalized and ensuring that everyone has a fair chance at success. By advocating for reparations, we honor the legacy of leaders like Sheila Jackson Lee and move closer to realizing the ideals of equality and justice that our nation aspires to uphold.
In memory of Sheila Jackson Lee, I am bringing to light an issue she sincerely cared about: establishing a commission to study reparations.
This week, I will call my Congressman (even though he’s a shit-Republican) to express my support for this study and urge him to back it as well. While the current Republican-led Congress may not pass this commission, we anticipate regaining the majority in January. That will be the perfect time to reaffirm our commitment to justice and equality by supporting this critical initiative.
Let us honor Sheila Jackson Lee’s legacy by taking action and advocating for the change she championed.
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Shiela meets Molly : "Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) went after former President Trump Saturday for his comments Vice President Harris’ racial identity earlier this week during a panel at the National Association of Black Journalist’s (NABJ) convention in Chicago.
“The disrespect that you saw on that stage to those journalists and the way that he talked to them, and the way that he talks about our vice president, if he will talk about the most powerful Black woman in the world this way, just imagine what he says behind closed doors about the rest of us,” Crockett said to MSNBC’s Alex Witt.
I thought I supported reparations until I saw how it was used in the 2020 primary to break up the call for universal programs. In the end, I reevaluated and now believe that Adolph Reed was exactly right in his debate with Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor. https://whyy.org/episodes/the-reparations-debate/