In a significant move ahead of Juneteenth, Mayor Brandon Johnson has signed an executive order to create a Reparations Task Force. The goal of this task force is to develop a Black Reparations Agenda.
The task force will collaborate with the Aldermanic Black Caucus, the Mayor’s offices of Equity and Racial Justice, Business, Economic and Neighborhood Development, and other key city departments.
This body will conduct a thorough study of the policies and ordinances that have harmed Black Chicagoans for generations, from slavery to the present day. Ultimately, it will make recommendations for appropriate remedies.
“Today’s Executive Order is not just a public declaration; it is a pledge to shape the future of our city by confronting the legacy of inequity that has plagued Chicago for far too long,” said Mayor Brandon Johnson. “In partnership with the Chicago City Council Black Caucus and our dedicated allies, we are continuing to build on the bedrock of my administration to move forward in reconciliation through targeted investments aimed at rectifying decades of deliberate disinvestment in Black neighborhoods and communities.
“These decisive actions move us beyond words and are a testament to my administration taking on the responsibility of this work. Thank you to all for your unwavering dedication that has brought us to this pivotal moment toward a more just and equitable Chicago for all.”
Mayor Johnson’s Executive Order 2024-1 acknowledges the harmful legacy of slavery and Jim Crow laws. He issued an apology on behalf of the city for historical wrongs against Black Chicagoans and their ancestors. The order aligns with Chicago’s Equity Statement of Principles, which promotes fair and just access to opportunities and resources for all residents.
“As an Alderwoman, I have remained steadfast in our city making progress wherever possible on reparations, and I am proud that we are taking concrete action rather than just engaging in
discourse,” said 16th Ward Alderwoman Stephanie D. Coleman. “Today is a major step forward, and I am thankful to the Johnson Administration for its continued support and commitment to addressing the deep wounds inflicted by centuries of injustice against the Black community. We will not be ashamed of who we are, and what we have overcome.”
The Executive Order also addresses the ongoing impact of slavery, Jim Crow laws, and other discriminatory practices on Black Chicagoans. These include disparities in life expectancy, unemployment, homeownership rates, home values and incarceration rates. The task force aims to address these disparities and work toward a more equitable future for all Chicagoans.
Executive Order 2024-1 will create a Task Force to develop and implement a Chicago Black Reparations Agenda. Working with the City of Chicago and the Aldermanic Black Caucus, the Task Force plans to:
- Create a City of Chicago definition and framework for reparations.
- Develop educational tools to build capacity within the City of Chicago and the public for reparations
- Identify core issue areas for redress and reparative action – for example, housing, economic development, health, education, community safety, mass incarceration and over-policing, and more.
- Conduct a comprehensive study and examination of all policies that have harmed Black Chicagoans from slavery era to present day.
- Hold public hearings and a broader community engagement strategy to gather testimonials and personal narratives from Black people with lived experience of their harm.
- Makes a series of recommendations that will serve as appropriate remedies and restitution for past injustices and present harm consistent with international standards.
- Recommends appropriate ways to educate the Chicago public on the report.
- Identifies connections to existing City of Chicago reparative policies and programs.
This declaration comes after Mayor Johnson invested $500,000 in the 2024 city budget to study Reparations and Restoration.
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