"2020 marks thirty-one years since the late Congressman John Conyers first introduced HR-40 as a bill to establish a Commission to Study Slavery, Jim Crow Laws and other post-emancipation discriminatory policies in the U.S. to  determine whether reparations for African Americans were warranted." "However, over the years volumes of scholarly studies, journal articles and books conclusively documented the link between the brutal and systematic oppression of Black people, the exploitation of Black labor and the explosive growth of America’s Capitalist system. Black labor produced wealth, power and privilege that benefited White Americans to varying degrees at all levels in this society. " -  Open Letter to Speaker Nancy Pelosi Support Reparations and Pass HR-40 Now!

Dr. Ron Daniels impassioned letter is a reminder to Speaker Pelosi and the rest of the nation that NOW is the time for "America to reckon with its original sin by finally awarding reparations to African Americans." 

For this meeting, we will discuss how we can collecitvely support the effort to pass HR 40. We will also discuss what a reparations bill could look like for RVA or VA. We will discuss the questions below as it pertains to RVA / VA.

1. What elements should be included in the bill?
2. Which legislators should be approached about the proposal?
3. What information should we include in the proposal to help build the case?
4. What partners should we approach for help and what would we need from them?
5. How can we engage the community to build support for this effort especially in white communities?

Please make sure you review the page accessible via the link below.  This page will provide a better understanding of what currently has been proposed or passed in this country as it pertains to reparations.

https://comingtothetable-rva.org/info/Reparations_In_Action.cfm

If you have any questions or concerns prior to the meeting, please let us know. Looking foward to this conversation. 

Tina Slaughter and Frank Moseley
CTTT-RVA Reparations Co-Conveners