SDARJ to host panel considering reparations Dec. 13

Southern Delaware Alliance for Racial Justice and the YWCA-DE Racial and Social Justice Program will present a panel discussion on reparations during a virtual town hall meeting set for 7 to 8:30 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 13. This is the second of a two-part discussion of reparations, focusing on the harm resulting from slavery in the United States.

In common usage, the term reparations refers to the act or process of making amends for a wrong. According to the United Nations, adequate, effective and prompt reparation is intended to promote justice by redressing gross violations of international human rights law or serious violations of international humanitarian law.

This discussion is a sequel to Let’s Talk About Reparations, a prerecorded YWCA-DE program featuring three Delaware community activists, presented at SDARJ’s November town hall meeting. It can be viewed by going to the Southern Delaware Alliance for Racial Justice channel on youtube.com.

The December meeting will take the discussion live, focusing on practical approaches to reparations and the various ways reparations might be made. Logan Herring will discuss supporting underserved communities as a form of reparations. Dr. Marlene Saunders will discuss how a focus on public health disparities in the Black community might be considered part of a reparations program. Lee Baker will speak about how George Washington University, a former slave-holding institution, is working on the reparations question.

The audience will have opportunities to share their thoughts and ideas on the issue, and to consider how to move from conversations to action.

To register and learn more, go to sdarj.org.