►
From YouTube: Committee on Civil Rights on October 26, 2021
Description
Docket #0734 - Hearing regarding reparations and their impact on the civil rights of Black Bostonians
A
A
A
I
believe,
we've
also
been
joined
by
my
colleagues
counselor
liz
breden
from
district
9
and
counselor
andrea
campbell
from
district
4.,
in
accordance
with
chapter
20
of
the
acts
of
2021,
modifying
certain
requirements
of
the
open
meeting
law
and
relieving
public
bodies
of
certain
requirements,
including
the
requirement
that
public
bodies
conduct
its
meeting
in
a
public
place
that
is
open
and
physically
accessible
to
the
public.
The
city
council
will
be
conducting
this
hearing
virtually
via
zoom
and
it's
being
recorded.
A
A
City
dash
council
dash
tv
and
on
xfinity
channel
8,
rcn
channel
82
and
verizon
channel
964..
It
will
also
be
rebroadcasted
at
a
later
date
if
you
wish
to
provide
public
testimony
have
not
signed
up
to
do
so.
Please
email,
christine.odano,
boston.gov,
for
the
link.
Also
written
comments
may
be
sent
to
the
committee
email
at
ccc.civilright.
A
A
The
structure
of
the
hearing
will
be
as
follows:
we
will
receive
an
african
libation
from
tony
dr
tony
van
der
meer
and
a
lan
acknowledgement
from
john
luke
pierre
next.
We
will
be
hearing
from
our
first
panel
composed
of
dr
jamiri
kamar
camaro,
who
will
speak
to
the
history
of
reparations
broadly
and
dr
van
der
meer,
who
will
speak
specifically
in
regards
to
boston's
history.
A
After
their
testimony,
we
will
take
questions
from
our
colleagues
after
the
questions
have
been
answered.
We
will
move
on
to
our
second
panel,
consisting
of
armani
white,
an
advocate
with
reclaim
boston,
aziza,
robinson,
good
night
project
director
for
the
boston
reparations
campaign,
the
new
democracy
coalition,
dr
tia,
martin,
ceo
and
founder
of
all
aces
inc,
I'm
tanisha
sullivan
president
of
the
boston,
double
boston
and
double
aacp
tammy,
kai
deputy
director
of
king
boston,
kevin
peterson,
executive
director
of
new
democracy
coalition.
A
A
Counselors
will
be
able
to
ask
their
questions
to
events
at
this
point.
Once
counselors
have
asked
their
questions,
we
will
open
it
up
to
the
administration
for
their
testimony,
which
includes
chief
laurie,
nelson
resilience,
officer
for
the
mayor's
office
of
resiliency
and
racial
equity,
jessica,
phillip,
director
of
initiatives
and
partnerships
for
the
mayor's
office
of
resiliency
and
racial
equity
and
selena
barrels-miller,
chief
equity
and
inclusion
cabinet.
A
A
It
was
a
collaborative
effort.
We
have
always
said
that
we're
here
to
step
to
the
side
and
let
others
lead-
and
this
is
what
it
looks
like
when
we
work
in
deep
community
and
and
I'm
so
incredibly
grateful
for
your
partnership
and
leadership
and
in
this
whole
entire
process.
So
without
further
ado,
dr
van
diemer,
you
have
the
floor.
D
D
At
this
moment
of
assemblage,
we
pay
homage
to
our
african
ancestors,
those
from
whom
humanity
originated
and
of
who
all
share
a
common
ancestry.
With
we
pay
homage
to
those
african
ancestors
who
experienced
the
ma'afa,
the
horrific
torturous
dehumanized
voyage
of
the
middle
passage,
the
exploitation
of
their
labor,
and
they
were
used
as
human
capital
to
build
the
industrial
western
world.
D
We
pay
homage
to
those
african
ancestors
whose
status
as
enslaved
non-persons
worked
the
agricultural
landscape
from
sun
up
to
down
those
who
were
known
and
unknown
whose
lives,
legacies
and
inheritance
were
brutally
stolen
from
them.
We
pay
homage
to
our
african
ancestors,
whose
nightmare
voyage
brought
them
to
the
seaports
of
boston,
where
laws,
governmental
structures
and
commercial
interests
were
complicit
in
the
international
enterprise
of
dehumanizing,
enslaving
and
commodifying
african
people
to
benefit
commercial
capital
development.
D
D
We
pour
libations
to
refresh
their
freedom
dreams
and
the
sacrifices
they
made
for
us
to
live
our
lives
in
peace
and
power
and
to
make
the
world
a
better,
equitable
and
inclusive
place
for
those
africans.
In
antiquity
for
those
africans
who
were
colonized
with
those
africans
who
enslaved
who
endured
the
middle
passage,
my
offer
for
those
africans
who
slaved
in
the
fields
of
america
for
those
africans
who
were
enslaved
as
servants
for
those
offsprings
of
africans
whose
children
sat
in
laden
march
protested,
boycotted
and
rebelled
to.
Let
the
world
know
that
black
lives
matter.
A
E
E
A
F
Dr
vandermeer,
thank
you
to
counselor
mejia,
thank
you
to
counselor
bach
for
this
hearing,
as
is
our
practice
at
the
north
american
indian
center
of
boston.
It
is
our
duty
to
recognize
the
land
that
we're
on
the
land
that
holds
us
in
the
land
that
sustains
us.
I
want
for
a
second
for
you
to
imagine
a
world
beyond
400
years
ago
in
which
there
were
people
on
this
land,
perhaps
where
we
know
there
to
be
water.
F
Thinking
about
all
of
the
buildings
that
we're
in
right
now,
perhaps
they're
not
there
anymore,
but
in
one
instance
that
we
want
to
hold
is
that
the
people
remain.
The
people
that
lived
here
that
loved
here
that
died
here.
They
still
continue
to
this
day,
and
I
want
to
bring
you
back
to
the
present,
and
I
want
you
to
think
about
the
land
that
you're
on
right
now
as
the
traditional
indigenous
territory
of
the
massachusetts
nation,
who
continue
to
this
day
in
part
through
the
lineal
descendants,
the
massachusetts
tribe
at
poncapog.
F
F
One
such
agreement
that
we
make
at
nacop-
and
I
hope
that
you
will
join
us-
is
in
the
support
of
every
effort
by
our
host
tribes
for
the
rematriation
of
land
and
natural
resources
back
to
the
original
peoples
and,
of
course,
just
pray
for
a
good
hearing
today
and
recognizing
the
racist
and
colonial
violence
of
this
of
this
area.
Let
that
be
a
promise
as
well.
A
Angry
really
do
appreciate
that
land
acknowledgement
and
setting
the
tone
and
to
our
colleagues
who
worked
with
us
on
organizing
this
to
making
sure
that
we
ground
ourselves
in
this
work.
So
thank
you
for
that.
I
would
like
counselor
bach,
who
is
our
co-sponsor
to
open
up
the
floor
before
we
begin
to
make
her
introductory
remarks.
Counselor
bach.
Thank
you
so
much
for
your
partnership.
You
now
have
the
floor.
G
Thank
you
so
much
councillor,
mejia
I'll,
be
brief,
because
I
think
we
just
have
many
people
with
a
lot
of
wisdom
and
insight
to
share
I'll
just
say
that
I
was
proud
to
co-sponsor
this
with
councilor
mejia,
recognizing
that
our
history
and
and
really
you
know
the
history
of
of
harm
and
despoilment
that
goes
back
to
the
native
peoples
and
also
to
the
folks
of
african
descent
who
were
brought
to
this
country.
It's
just
it's
a
deep
and
lasting
scar.
G
It
still
continues
to
affect
our
country
in
every
kind
of
policy
arena,
and
I
think
it's
a
it's
a
good
space
to
be
talking
about
it.
It's
a
it's
a
better
space
to
be
thinking
about
what
we
can
do
that
really
feels
reparative
together.
So
definitely
something
that
I
would
my
historian
had
on
have
been
very
aware
of
and
have
been
involved
in
some
efforts
to
do
history
and
institutions
that
I've
been
a
part
of.
G
I
think
that
when
we
talk
about
government,
you
know
it
opens
up
the
conversation
in
a
way
that
can
be
harder
because
there's
more
people
involved
than
in
a
particular
institution,
but
it
also
you
know,
carries
a
lot
of
promise
to
kind
of
come
together
and
do
something
meaningful
and
different.
So
again,
like
counselor
mejia
said
not
here
as
an
expert
just
here
as
a
co-sponsor
and
looking
forward
to
the
conversation
today
and
really
grateful
to
everybody,
who's
who's
come
into
this
room
with
us.
So
thank
you.
Counselor
maria.
A
H
H
I've
been
asked
to
speak
to
several
hundred
years
of
history
in
approximately
five
minutes,
and
I
will
do
my
best
to
respect
others
who
are
coming
behind
me,
but
I
need
to
in
the
beginning
clarify
of
what
we
speak,
this
question
of
reparations.
What
is
this
that
we
are
talking
about?
What
is
the
reparations
for
which
we
are
petitioning
the
city
to
establish
a
steady
commission
for
the
development
of
proposals
for
reparations
for
repair
at
its
core,
we're
speaking
about
repair?
H
H
H
Right
thousand
500
median
income
wealth
for
whites,
eight
dollars,
some
have
argued
about
the
methodology.
Okay,
let's
argue
eight,
eight
hundred
eight
thousand,
it
doesn't
matter
the
injustice
and
clearly
the
transgenerational
wealth
transfer
that
has
occurred
to
some
has
not
impacted
other
communities.
H
We
have
a
responsibility
to
address
this
at
all
of
its
levels
of
social,
economic,
psychological
impact.
The
question
is
not
what
needs
to
be
done.
The
fundamental
issue
is
whether
we
have
the
political
will
to
establish
a
commission
that
will
allow
us
to
engage
in
depth
a
process
and
a
comprehensive
program.
H
H
H
H
H
The
colonists
throughout
the
western
hemisphere,
led
by
the
british,
sought
to
a
to
curtail
the
trade
in
1807.
The
united
states
would
follow
in
1808
curtailing
the
trade,
but
not
slavery
itself.
It
was
not
until
1836
that
the
british
actually
emancipate
the
slaves,
but
in
that
process
of
the
emancipation
of
slaves
would
pay
20
million
pounds,
one-fifth
of
the
gdp
of
the
british
empire
to
the
slave
owners
and
not
a
dime
to
those
who
had
been
enslaved.
H
I
know
I
must
acknowledge
my
time
and
I
am
very
considerate
of
those
who
will
follow
me,
but
this
lineage
that
we
are
discussing
that
goes
through
a
very
critical
period
of
reconstruction
in
this
country.
After
our
own
emancipation
in
1863.,
the
petitioning
brought
forth
by
belinda
was
only
codified
in
a
legal
document
before
the
state
legislature,
with
the
advocacy
of
the
first
black
state
senator
in
the
history
of
massachusetts,
which
would
come
some
200
years
later.
H
H
We
have
an
opportunity
here
to
bring
forward
the
process
first
enshrined
in
legislation
never
heard
but
to
in
fact
in
boston,
establish
such
a
commission
that
can
help
us
begin
to
bridge
this
gap
of
acknowledgement
leading
to
reconciliation,
but
passing
through
the
process
of
accountability
through
the
form
of
a
reparations
commission.
And
I
urge
the
council
to
listen
carefully
to
the
testimony
today
and
to
move
to
establish
such
a
commission
which
would
allow
us
to
the
work
that
needs
to
be
done.
A
Thank
you,
dr
kamara.
Yes,
I
will
acknowledge
that
we
we
you
did
you
know
this
is,
I
think,
one
of
the
hardest
things
especially
chairing
a
hearing
as
thoughtful
as
this
and
being
super
mindful
of
time,
but
it's
just
not
in
my
nature,
to
stick
to
the
rules
when
there's
so
much
humanity
that
needs
to
be
centered
in
the
way
we
do
business.
A
So
thank
you
for
that.
I
also
wanted
to
just
quickly
acknowledge
that
we
have
also
been
joined
by
my
colleague,
councillor
flaherty
at
large,
who
has
joined
us
as
well.
So
dr
abandon
mir
and
counselor
wu
has
also
joined
us.
Thank
you,
council
at
large
council
who
is
also
here
with
us
this
morning.
So
dr
van
di
ramir,
you
now
have
the
floor.
D
Thank
you
and
thank
you,
dr
kumar.
I
want
to
go
back
to
some
of
the
points
that
dr
kamar
had
made
when
you
look
at
particularly
the
period
of
of
the
1800s
when
the
question
of
reparations
were
were
brought
up.
Well,
where
will
the
people
who
are
enslaved,
where
where
they
would
go?
But
the
question
was:
how
are
they
going
to
reimburse
the
slave
owners
and
not
the
people
who
were
enslaved?
D
But
of
course,
as
you
know,
the
the
the
states
got
into
a
big
fight
around
the
compromise,
missouri
compromise
and
whether
we
would
have
a
slave
state
or
a
free
state,
and
that
that
part
of
that
is
that
in
boston
that
they
had
outlawed
in
massachusetts
outlawed
slavery.
But
you
had
the
fugitive
slave
law,
which
made
it
mandatory
for
folks
to
submit
to
that,
and
so
when
folks,
who
escaped
and
came
to
boston,
they
had
magistrates
looking
for
them
to
return
them
back
to
their
proper
owner
right.
D
D
Fundamentally,
the
black
people
had
no
rights
that
white
people
were
bound
to
respect
that
you
know
began
to
be
the
basis
in
terms
of
moving
the
radical
republicans
around
the
civil
war
and
after
the
civil
emancipation
of
proclamation,
and
then
the
civil
war
began
going
to
the
first
civil
rights
act
of
the
13th,
14th
and
15th,
amendment
of
which
you
know
freed
those
who
were
enslaved,
abolished
slavery.
But
then
the
fourth
amendment
was
the
equal
rights
amendment
which
sort
of
we
made
our
citizens.
D
And
then
it
was
supposedly
going
through
that
period
of
segregation,
even
for
black
men
and
women
who
fought
in
the
army,
were
had
to
be
in
segregated
troops
and
surrogated
barracks.
You
know
had
to
write
in
several
on
segregated
buses
and
trains
and
so
forth,
and
then
going
up
to
the
brown
versus
board
of
education.
D
That
said
separate
but
equal
were
was,
and
we've
been
fighting
from
that
point,
but
those
laws
and
policies
still
has
have
their
their
footprints
and
is
present
today,
look
at
the
the
the
school
the
segregation
that
we
were
was
trying
to
deal
with
in
the
in
the
70s
look
at
the
housing
that
we
had
to
begin
with.
Look
at
the
redlining,
let's
deal
with
what's
happening
with
that,
even
the
form
of
gentrification.
Let's
look
at
the
police
of
brutality
and
murders
that
happen
in
this
community.
D
I
don't
know
if
people
remember
you
know
with
the
the
charles
stewart
case
where
the
police
went
to
communities
like
they
were
storm,
troopers,
somewhere
raiding
communities
when
they
found
out
that
it
wasn't
a
black
person
who
did
that?
Let's
talk
about
leave
our
heart
a
14
year
old
kid
90
pounds
shot
in
the
back
of
his
head.
D
You
know,
so
there
are
many
incidents
in
terms
of
where
we
see
policies
that
reflect
city
of
this
city
in
terms
of
how
black
people
were
treated
and
how
we're
still
marginalized,
not
to
mention
the
eight
dollar
of
net
worth
they're,
saying
that
for
single
black
women,
the
net
worth
is
five
dollars
compared
to
41
million
41
000
for
white
females
and
so
forth.
So
there's
a
lot
of
work
that
we
have
to
do,
but
we
have
to
acknowledge
these
disparities.
D
This
inequality,
this
injustice
in
order
to
deal
with
the
harm
that
was
done
and
to
go
towards
restoration
and
healing
so
that
we
can
begin
to
live
decently
as
human
beings
and
live
in
peace.
Otherwise,
you
know
james
baldwin
made
it
very
clear.
It
will
be
fire
the
next
time.
So
I'm
going
to
end
with
that.
A
A
So
it's
a
no!
I
really.
I
really
do
appreciate
your
timeliness
and,
more
importantly,
the
gems
of
wisdom
that
you
dropped
on
us.
I
think
it's
important
to
understand
the
specific
history
of
slavery
and
reparations
as
it
relates
to
boston.
You
gave
some
really
clear
examples
of
how
they,
how
that
shows
up.
I
now
open
the
floor
up
to
my
colleagues
to
ask
their
questions.
A
A
H
Thank
you
very
much.
Counselor.
There
have
been
a
number
of
examples
of
such
commissions
established
around
the
country
and
even
globally,
and
we
need
to,
I
think,
be
careful
of
that,
because
in
dealing
with
this
issue,
there
has
been
a
truth
and
reconciliation
process
called
for
in
many
actually
countries
from
argentina
to
south
africa,
and
one
of
the
findings
of
that
process
has
been
that
you
cannot
reach
reconciliation
without
repair.
H
Looking
at
both
economic
justice,
social
concerns,
psychological
mental
health.
The
broad
range
of
comprehensive
supports
to
deal
with
this
question
of
repair
and
healing
this
is
the
kind
of
approach
that
I
think
would
be
most
effective.
That
allows
you
to
then
use
the
resources
of
public
institutions
of
the
academy
of
the
fiscal
interest
and
the
spiritual
community
as
well,
because
central
to
these
issues
is
a
kind
of
spiritual
healing
and
renewal
that
we
need
in
this
country
and
certainly
in
our
community.
G
Great,
thank
you
so
much,
dr
kamara.
That's
that's
a
really
helpful
model
to
know
about,
and
I
guess
just
one
question
for
dr
vandermeer,
I
was
wondering
one
of
the
things
that
I
have
heard
from
folks
who
have
explored
this
in
other
areas
is
to
is
to
really
try
to
bring
that
specificity
to
local
history
right
and
to
recognize
that
that,
while
there
are
there's
a
whole
national
story,
that
boston
is
a
part
of
and
that
we
also
have
to
tell
and
connect
to
that,
sometimes
especially
in
the
northeast.
G
We
kind
of
get
into
this
mind
frame
of
oh,
that
stuff
happened
elsewhere
in
the
country
and
really
connecting
it
here
is
important.
So
I
just
wondered
if
I
know
we're
going
to
hear
about
different
sort
of
areas
from
the
next
panel,
but
whether
there's
any
particular
real
boston-focused
story
that
you
think
that
this
process
should
be
keying
off
of
or
keeping
in
mind
or
raising
up
for
folks.
D
You
know
that
white
workers
receive
versus
black
workers
the
question
of
redlining
right,
even
the
question
of
the
kind
of
education
that
black
people
and
poor
people
who
had
were
subjected
to,
and
so,
if
you
aren't
able
to
get
the
resources
to
develop,
you
know
to
buy
to
pay
your
rent.
You
know
to
put
a
down
payment
on
a
housing
or
start
a
small
business.
It's
going
to
put
you
at
a
disadvantage.
D
D
D
I
got
professors
over
at
this
university
who
can't
find
a
house
to
buy,
and
some
people
who
can't
even
you
know,
afford
to
pay
the
rents,
in
particular
out
of
my
students.
So
I
think
that
the
question
of
around
the
economy
in
housing
are
people
to
look
at
how
black
people
have
been
disadvantaged
in
this
particular
a
city.
D
I
want
to
also
add
that
it's
interesting
that
boston
was
a
seaport
in
which
they
brought
many
of
people
who,
enslaved
here
and
few
of
them.
You
know
work.
You
know
with
small
groups
of
people
whether
they
were
servants
or
whatever
it
is
so
it
wasn't.
There
was
more
plantation
slavery
as
it
was
in
the
south
right,
but
boston
made
plenty
of
money
right.
You
know
finances
make
money.
D
A
Yes,
thank
you.
Councillor
bach,
and
I
just
want
to
know
to
my
colleagues:
don't
think
I'm
playing
favorites,
but
I
did
allow
counselor
bach
to
go
a
little
over.
She
is
my
co-sponsor,
but
I'm
not
expecting
you
all
to
model
that
behavior
and
I
want
you
all
to
keep
your
questions
to
five
minutes
and
so
I'd
love
to
go
next
to
a
counselor
breeden
from
district
nine.
You
now
have
the
floor
for
questions.
I
Thank
you,
madam
chair,
and,
and
thank
you
to
yourself
and
counselor
bach
for
bringing
this
issue
forward.
I'm
really
here
to
listen
and
learn
this
morning.
I
do
have
some
time
constraints.
I
need
to
jump
off
at
11,
so
I
have
no
questions.
I'm
just
going
to
keep
listening
and
thank
you
so
much,
and
I
look
forward
to
this
initiative
moving
forward
with
all
your
their
guidance
and
thank
you
to
all
the
panelists
this
morning
for
your
contribution
and
sharing
with
us
this
morning.
Thank
you,
madam
chair.
A
J
J
I
also
want
to
give
a
special
shout
out
to
atiyah
and
an
event
who,
for
years,
were
having
engaging
counselors
on
these
very
issues
and
played
a
critical
role
in
us
filing
a
hearing
order
earlier
in
the
year
on
establishing
a
truth
and
reconciliation
commission,
as
mentioned
by
dr
vandermeer
and,
of
course
dr
mr
kamara,
and
so
I
do
in
encourage
us
or
you.
I
will
continue
the
work
post,
this
council
for
sure
on
looking
on
that
hearing
order,
because
it
was
informed
by
civil
rights,
legends
who
are
local.
J
You
know
margaret
burnham
and
many
others
who
have
done
this
work
locally
and
internationally
and
who
have
experience
in
creating
such
commissions
modeled.
You
know
in
many
ways-
or
I
should
say
many
of
the
newer
commissions
you're,
seeing
in
california
and
other
places,
modeled
on
ideas
that
are
coming
right
out
of
boston,
and
so
I
do
think
it's
timely
that
we
have
this
conversation
in
the
city
to
set
up
such
a
commission.
I
would
encourage
us
to
even
be
broader
in
scope.
J
So
the
truth
piece
is
critical.
You
can't
get
to.
The
latter.
Part
has
been
has
been
stated
without
that
first
part,
but
then
the
other
piece
that
was
really
our
team
explored
and
really
were
just
taken
aback
by
was
the
possibilities
of
all
the
restorative
and
equity
restorative
solutions
that
the
city
could
adopt
reparations
being
one
of
them,
but
also
historic,
markers,
adjusting
our
curriculum
within
even
our
own
schools.
J
A
K
So
I
just
wanted
to
add
my
gratitude
to
the
two
sponsors
to
counselor
campbell
as
well,
for
all
of
her
work
on
on
the
council
and
and
raising
this
topic
and
providing
solutions
already
and
to
the
many
speakers
who
will
be
participating
today.
I'm
really
grateful
and
look
forward
to
staying
part
of
this
conversation.
Thank
you.
A
A
On
you,
so
thank
you
so
very
much
to
my
colleagues
for
joining
and
being
a
part
of
the
conversation.
I
will
now
turn
it
over
to
our
second
panel.
Once
again,
I
ask
that
panelists,
please
keep
their
testimony
to
no
more
than
five
minutes.
We
will
start
with
armani
white
armani.
You
now
have
the
floor.
L
L
L
In
my
studies
about
the
history
of
how
we've
ended
up
with
a
city,
the
way
that
we
have
it-
and
I
won't
go
on
too
too
long
cause-
I
know
I
have
a
limit
here,
but
I'm
gonna
go
into
some
history
of
like
of
what
black
people
have
dealt
with
when
it
comes
to
land
and
the
la
and
land
been
taking
away
from
them
in
boston
and
how
we've
landed
today.
That,
I
think,
will
set
some
good
context
for
councillors,
as
we
think
through
this
commission
and
next
steps.
L
L
First,
one
in
the
country
to
own
land
is
the
poor
of
potter
atkins
and
in
1656,
so
black
people,
despite
being
brought
here
and
chad
in
in
chains
as
slaves,
were
able
to
get
free
and
get
land,
and
that
was
a
way
that
they
were
able
to
find
land
yeah,
find
freedom,
wealth
and
power.
With
that
land
bashing
ken,
the
first
black
person
to
own
land,
was
able
to
leverage
that
to
free
another
black
man
by
mortgaging
his
property.
L
So
we
see
that
having
land
and
having
access
to
it
has
been
a
part
of
black
people's
freedom
here
in
boston
and
the
way
in
which
black
people's
land
was
taken,
as
has
been
taken
away
from
them,
and
the
way
that
they've
been
not
allowed
to
access
and
own
land
has
been
a
part
of
this
history
and
I'm
just
realizing
how
blurry
my
camera
is.
So
I'm
going
to
try
to
give
it
a
little
white
there.
We
go
and
so
important
for
folks
to
understand
that
black
people
in
boston
right.
We
were.
L
We
came
here
in
slaves
as
you've
heard
people
talk
about.
We
came
here
and
changed
as
slaves,
and
then
we
got
free.
We
we
fought
to
get
our
own
people
free,
and
then
we
were
faced
at
every
step
with
opposition
from
white
people
who
wanted
to
see
us
used
as
as
capital
and
not
as
people
with
the
hopes
and
desires
for
freedom,
wealth
and
power,
and
so
you'll.
If
you
like,
follow
the
history
of
it,
we
got
you
know
there.
L
There
was
black
people
who
fought
to
help,
beat
the
british
there's
black
people
who
went
and
fought
to
make
sure
that
we
that
we
maintained
our
unity
during
the
civil
war.
We
know
that
slavery
was
abolished
here
in
massachusetts
in
1781,
but
that
it
wouldn't
be
abolished
in
the
rest
of
the
country
until
1886..
L
In
that
100
year
period,
black
people
were
in
boston
fighting
for
the
liberation
of
other
black
people
across
the
country.
During
that
period
they
still
face
discrimination
and
lack
of
access
to
land,
the
one
area
in
boston
where
black
people
were
able
to
actually
gain
a
footing.
As
we
know,
or
maybe
you
don't
know,
beacon
hill,
which
is
now
majority
white
affluent
community
was
formerly
a
majority
african-american
and
port
and
down
into
the
west
end
area
was,
was
a
majority
black
community
in
a
political
black
political
base
in
boston?
L
And
so
we
think
about
the
history
of
land,
power,
wealth
and
freedom.
The
the
west
end
was
where
black
people
were
able
to
get
hold
political
office
for
years.
Prior
to
you
know,
in
the
midst
of
a
country
where,
in
the
midst
of
a
country
where
people
were
black,
people
were
not
allowed
to
vote
in
the
south,
and
so,
as
time
went
on,
you
know
we
have.
We
have
attempts
by
power
by
by
the
powers
to
to
basically
disenfranchise
black
people
and
their
power
base,
starting
in
west.
L
L
That
was
shrunken
to
to
to
make
po
to
essentially
to
to
centralize
power
in
the
city
of
boston
and
to
take
away
what
little
power
black
people
immigrants
have
had
gotten
in
the
years
following
following
the
civil
war,
and
so
I'm
gonna
speed
up
the
current
day,
because
I'm
I'm
getting
into
the
the
history
is
important,
but
it
is.
It
just
sets
the
tone
for
today.
L
So
again,
black
people,
boston,
restricted
to
own
own
land,
operate
out
of
the
west
end
of
boston,
a
political
power
base
in
the
country
in
1900s.
By
the
we
we
saw.
You
know
america
growing,
the
roaring
20s
come
the
50s,
there's
money
from
the
federal
government
to
help
land
federal
monies
to
redevelop
cities
to
make
them
more
to
essentially
to
revitalize
them.
L
Part
of
that
plan
led
to
the
west
end
parts
of
the
immigrant
community
in
boston,
jp
roxbury
being
chosen
as
areas
to
be
basically
raised
for
the
development
of
the
business
sector.
So
the
the
history
of
black
people,
as
we've
heard,
professor
vandermeer
talk
about
you
know,
is
about
using
us
in
our
our
community
and
our
in
our
in
our
bodies.
L
Nowadays,
the
western
doesn't
exist
so
that
opportunity
to
to
actually
hold
on
to
land
was
taken
when
the
bra
was
founded
after
urban
renewal
by
the
city
council,
so
important
to
understand
all
this
information
to
understand
how
we
have
a
city
now,
where
black
people
net
worth
is
eight
dollars
compared
to
white
people's
240
250
thousand
dollars.
You
know
what
would
it
look
like
if
by
people
who
had
been
able
to
own
that
they
had
hold
on
to
the
land
in
the
west
end
from
that
time?
L
To
now
that
land
is
how
we
know
that
people
build
wealth,
fast
forwarding.
We
know
that
that
the
west
end
raising
was
something
that
the
city
has
acknowledged
was
a
wrong
decision,
and
it's
talked
about
and
said
sorry.
But
what
does
it
look
like
to
actually
heal
the
homes
and
actually
do
something
about
that
fast
forwarding
a
bit
more?
L
The
we
know
that
in
the
city
of
boston,
the
fights
with
the
bra
have
been
some
of
the
most
famous
fights
that
that
we've
seen
black
and
brown
communities
take
on
so
important
to
recognize
came
here
as
slaves
were,
got
free
were
able
to
purchase
land
that
land
was
taken
from
us
by
city
government
and
used
to
create
way
for
business.
That
is
like,
if
that
doesn't
speak,
to
the
need
for
reparations
today.
Important.
L
L
It's
ducks
in
a
row.
You
have
in
the
city
of
boston
people
like
mel
king
chuck,
turner,
fighting
with
the
bra
about
highways
about
the
removal
of
black
people
from
the
madison
park
area.
People
fighting
to
even
and
even
proposing
in
their
frustration
to
secede
from
boston,
roxbury,
dorchester
mattapan
black
communities
advocated
at
one
point
to
actually
leave
the
city
of
boston
and
in
each
step
and
trying
to
basically
build
their
access
to
land
power,
freedom
and
wealth
people.
L
Black
people
in
boston
have
been
faced
with
opposition
from
the
bpd,
the
bra
important
to
know
right.
The
the
bra
change,
its
name
in
2016
to
the
bpda,
so
you'll
hear
me,
go
between
bpda
bra,
but
that's
because
yeah,
and
but
that's
only
because
the
name
change
the
function
and
form
hasn't
and
as
an
organizer
in
2016
who
helped
found
reclaimed
roxbury,
which
is
which
continues
the
fight
of
this
long
history
of
battling
city
government
over
land.
We
see
that
yeah
that
that
the
calls
to
abolish
it.
L
The
calls
to
reform
the
bpda
that
we
hear
happening
are
not
misplaced
and
come
from
a
long
history
of
folks
feeling
like
the
bpda.
The
bra
is
serves
a
function
to
just
harm
the
black
community.
I
grew
up
hearing
the
acronym
the
bra
stood
for
the
black
removal
agency,
and
that
is
just
that's
just
a
fact
of
what
black
people
in
boston
know.
So
I'm
gonna
wrap
up
by
saying
what
do
we
do
about
it?
You
know
I've
just
kind
of
described
a
long
history
of
how
black
people
have
been.
L
You
know
stripped
of
land
power,
wealth
freedom
here
in
boston
through
intentional
government
actions.
So
what
intentional
government
actions
can
be
taken
to
heal
that
harm?
We
have
millions
of
dollars
in
american
rescue
plan
money
coming.
How
could
that
be
targeted
to
black
communities
for
home
ownership
and
to
take
land
off
of
the
speculative
market?
We
have
some
of
the
first
black.
We
have
some
of
the
first
black
lead,
land,
trust
or
the
first
land
trust
in
america,
and
it
was
a
black
led
project,
the
dorchester
street
neighborhood
initiative
dsni.
L
What
would
it
yeah?
What
would
it
look
like
to
try
to
heal
the
harms?
It
would
it's
going
to
take
a
lot,
but
it's
clear
that
there's
a
case
for
it
here
in
boston
when
you
look
through
this
long
history
and
and
look
at
the
work
of
folks
like
mel
king
chuck,
turner,
byron,
rushing
who
focused
on
this
like
history
of
of
land
and
folks
to
this
day,
who
are
still
fighting
like
reclaim
roxbury,
focusing
on
how
the
city
leads
development
and
decides
on
how
public
land
is
being
used.
A
Yeah,
thank
you,
armani,
and
I
also
just
wanted
to
thank
again
our
lead,
organizers,
yvette,
tammy,
tanisha
and
aziza
for
really
lining
up
this
amazing
and
powerful
panel
for
today
to
help
us
get
everything
on
the
record.
I
want
to
also
acknowledge
that
one
of
our
panelists
kevin
peterson
from
the
new
democracy
coalition
has
a
time
constraint.
A
So,
with
the
permission
of
my
or
lead
organizers,
we're
going
to
allow
him
to
have
his
five
minutes
for
his
presentation
and
I'm
not
sure
if
he's
going
to
be
able
to
come
back
for
the
question
and
answer
portion,
but
at
the
very
least,
would
like
to
make
sure
that
kevin
peterson,
you
have
an
opportunity
since
you've
been
such
a
steadfast
leader
in
this
space,
would
love
to
make
sure
that
you
get
on
the
record.
In
terms
of
this
conversation
so
kevin.
You
now
have
a
floor.
M
Thank
you.
You
can't
hear
me
correct.
You
can't
hear
me.
Okay,
thank
you,
madam
chair
women
and
members
of
the
boston
city,
council
and
attendees.
My
name
is
reverend
dr
kevin
peterson.
I
reside
in
dorchester
I'm
a
founder
of
the
new
democracy
coalition,
which
focuses
in
the
area
of
civic
literacy,
civic
policy
and
electoral
justice,
among
other
things,
I'm
the
creator
of
the
just
vote
campaign
now
underway
in
boston.
M
The
ndc
created
this
program
purposely
six
years
ago
with
the
intentionality
of
fostering
new,
a
new
civil
society
within
boston's
black
community
by
way
of
reorienting
a
sense
of
citizenship,
social
purpose
and
cultural
reframing.
The
gestural
campaign
is
an
authentic
expression
of
a
black-led
organization
and
institution
in
boston.
M
In
light
of
my
calling
as
a
minister
of
the
gospel
I'd
like
to
say
that
the
nbc
issued
a
prophetic
call
for
reparations
in
boston
at
that
time,
our
call
was
aimed
specifically
at
members
of
the
boston
city,
council
and
former
mayor
marty
walsh.
The
call
for
reparations
was
specifically
made
within
the
larger
context
of
a
call
for
the
change
of
the
name
of
faneuil
hall.
M
The
call
from
the
mdc
activists
was
not
the
first
call
for
reparations
among
boston's
black
leadership,
but
it
was
among
the
most
recent,
and
so
when
the
call
was
made
in
boston,
the
world
paid
attention
the
associated
press
reporting
from
boston
about
the
call
was
heard
in
china
and
in
russia
and
europe
and
parts
of
africa.
Please
allow
me
to
offer
these
observations.
M
M
Peter
fannia,
for
whom
the
hall
was
named,
was
a
racist
and
a
boston
citizen
who
con
considered
black
bostonians
as
nothing
more
than
talking
work.
Animals
peter
faniel
reduce
the
enslaved
of
boston,
the
legacy
of
the
transatlantic
slave
trade
to
the
status
of
things,
things
from
which
creativity
could
be
stolen,
things
from
which
sexual
pleasure
could
be
forcefully
derived
things
from
which
the
exploited,
exploited,
exploitation
in
terms
of
money
could
be
manifested.
M
M
M
M
I
conclude
simply
with
this
a
understand,
faneuil
hall,
as
a
specific
cause
and
condition
of
current
misery
and
suffering
by
black
people
in
the
city.
It
is
a
an
example,
a
synecdoche
of
racial
hate
that
persists
in
the
city
and
the
changing
of
its
name
represents
a
form
of
reparations
b
apologize
for
apologize
for
slavery
before
the
creation
of
the
committee.
M
The
commission,
if
the
mayor
of
the
city
of
boston
and
members
of
the
council
continue
to
ignore
the
fact
that
they
govern
on
the
historical
notions
of
hate
towards
black
people,
then
that's
very
disappointing
and
finally,
let
black
people
lead
on
the
issue.
Thank
you
very
much
for
your
time.
I
am
apologetic
that
I
will
not
be
able
to
stay
for
any
questions,
but
I
very
much
appreciate
this
issue
coming
before
the
council
and
I
look
forward
to
participating
in
the
future.
A
N
N
So
I'm
here
my
name
is
aziza
robinson
good
night,
I'm
a
bostonian
whose
family
has
been
here
for
multiple
generations
and
whose
land
has
been
taken
by
irvine
bruno,
I'm
a
voter,
I'm
a
pro
I'm
a
voter,
I'm
the
project
director
for
the
new
democracy,
coalition's,
boston,
reparations
campaign,
the
chair
for
the
frederick
douglas
sculpture
project
and
a
daughter
of
the
black
arts
community
in
full
disclosure.
I
am
very
invested
in
urging
for
racial
equity
in
boston.
N
Sorry,
I'm
very
I'm
very
I'm
very
invested
in
urging
for
racial
equity
in
boston
and
will
directly
be
addressing
arts
culture
and
healing
this
statement
is
expression
of
my
demand
for
reparation
in
boston.
I'm
aware
of
the
struggles
within
the
black
community,
especially
as
they
pertain
to
social
justice.
N
N
The
historical
passive
system,
systematic
policies
that
have
created
the
idea
of
a
dangerous
black
existence
resulting
in
red
lighting,
employment
discrimination,
health
care
and
education
disparities,
and
even
racist.
This
discriminatory
dress
codes
at
dining
and
entertainment
venues
that
directly
target
urban
fashion.
N
In
healing
we
recognize
our
common
humanity,
acknowledge
the
truth
of
past
wrongs
and
build
authentic
relationships
capable
of
transforming
communities
and
shifting
our
national
discourse
over
the
dec.
Over
the
past
decade,
health
psychologists
have
cautiously
begun
looking
at
how
the
arts
might
have
might
be
used
in
a
variety
of
ways
to
heal
emotional
injuries,
increase
understanding
of
one
of
oneself
and
others
develop
a
capacity
for
self-reflection,
reduce
symptoms
and
alter
behaviors
and
thinking
patterns.
N
N
According
to
arts
boston's
the
art
factor
2019
report,
an
update
to
its
landmark
2014
study
quote
the
arts
factor.
2019
reveals
that
the
region's
art
and
culture
sector
contributes
2
billion
annually
to
the
local
economy
through
direct
and
indirect
spending
by
cultural
organizations
and
audiences,
an
increase
of
more
than
40
percent
since
2014
it
counts,
21
million
annual
attendees
to
arts
and
culture
events.
N
N
It
is
end
quote:
it
is
upon
us
and
the
city
of
boston
to
make
sure
that
the
black
our
community
is
benefiting
from
the
financial
influx.
We
need
rep.
We
need
a
reparations
commission
in
boston
that
includes
arts,
culture
and
history
as
the
heartbeat
that
drives
black
people
in
order
to
create
a
safe
space
for
black
existence.
N
A
O
Thank
you
councilor
mejia
good
morning,
I'm
tanisha
sullivan
president
of
the
naacp
boston
branch
resident
of
the
hyde
park,
neighborhood
of
boston.
I
want
to
first
thank
you,
councillor,
mejia
and
councillor
bach,
for
your
leadership
in
bringing
this
particular
issue
to
the
city
council
and,
hopefully
advancing
a
commission
on
reparations
here
in
the
city.
There
is
certainly
a
sense
of
urgency
on
this
issue
and
we
can
wait
no
longer.
I
also
want
to
thank
the
city
councilors,
who
are
with
us
and
who
have
been
with
us
today:
council,
breedon
campbell
wu
flynn
and
flaherty.
O
Only
the
black
woman
can
say
when
and
where
I
enter,
and
the
quiet,
undisputed
dignity
of
my
womanhood,
without
violence
and
without
suing
or
special
patronage,
then,
and
there,
the
whole
race
enters
with
me
and
this
work
in
and
through.
You
really
captures
the
spirit
of
that
quote.
It
is
my
honor
to
serve
with
you
I'll,
provide
brief
remarks
and
look
forward
to
our
dialogue
on
this
issue.
O
But
first
I
just
want
to,
for
the
record,
speak
a
little
bit
about
the
naacp
for
over
112
years,
the
naacp
has
served
as
one
of
the
most
effective
civil
rights
and
racial
justice
organizations
in
our
country.
The
naacp
boston
branch
is
the
oldest
chartered
branch
in
the
association
and
has
an
incomparable
legacy
within
the
association.
O
We
are
a
multi-racial
organization
and
we
are
clear-eyed
and
our
focus
on
advancing
equity
in
education,
economic
opportunity,
climate
justice,
criminal
justice,
health,
equity
and
voting
rights
here
in
boston.
We
do
so
by
being
data
driven
strategic
and
laser
focused
on
advancing
racial
equity,
public
policy.
O
The
impact
of
our
work
is
experienced
across
the
city
of
boston
in
institutions
like
the
boston,
public
schools,
the
boston
police
department,
the
boston
housing
authority,
as
well
as
in
the
private
sector.
It
can
be
seen
in
public
policy
from
supplier
diversity
to
educational
equity,
to
policing,
reform
to
health
care
access.
O
As
we've
engaged
in
our
work,
it
has
become
clear
that
our
city
is
evolving.
We
are
becoming
a
better
city,
but
we
are
still
held
back
by
generations,
old,
systemic
challenges
that
are
rooted
in
racism.
To
be
clear,
this
is
not
the
boston
that
my
maternal
great-grandmother
and
great-grandfather
experienced
as
a
biracial
couple
in
the
early
1900s.
O
Nor
is
it
the
boston
that
my
family
experienced
in
the
1950s
and
1960s
in
columbia
point,
and
it's
certainly
not
the
boston
that
my
dad
knew
as
a
bps
educator
in
the
70s
80s
and
90s.
We
have
progressed,
but
we
have
not
been
successful
in
addressing
the
complicated
relationship
between
the
black
american
community
and
the
city
of
boston
writ
large.
The
impact
of
that
reality
is
seen
in
the
numbers
of
black
americans
who
are
choosing
to
leave
boston
a
place.
So
many
of
us
have
called
home
for
generations
in
my
own
family.
O
Indeed,
we
have
seen
the
worst
of
this
city,
but
we've
also
seen
the
best
of
this
city.
My
maternal
aunt
owned
several
businesses
here
in
the
city
of
boston.
In
the
mid
1900s
and
two
weeks
ago,
I
was
honored
to
stand
outside
of
nubian
square
and
witnessed
the
groundbreaking
for
the
statue
of
general
edward
gerdin,
a
brigadier
general
in
the
army,
an
olympian
scholar
and
the
first
black
and
indigenous
person
to
be
appointed
to
the
massachusetts
superior
court
in
1958
general
gordin
was
my
great-grand
uncle.
O
The
truth
is
as
black
people,
we
have
a
rich
legacy
in
boston.
Every
generation
has
contributed
to
making
this
city
better
and
stronger
this,
even
when
the
road
was
not
clear
and
opportunities
were
hard
to
come
by,
as
we
were,
stifled
under
systemic
racism.
Black
boston
is
a
cornerstone
of
this
city.
O
When
my
mother
moved
to
an
apartment
in
brockton
in
the
70s,
it
was
for
the
same
reason
that
many
black
families
have
flocked
out
of
boston
today
for
places
like
brockton
and
randolph
and
stoughton.
It's
about
opportunity,
affordability
and
access
in
brockton,
my
parents
were
able
to
buy
their
first
home,
and
my
mother
was
able
to
launch
two
very
successful
business
ventures,
one
a
family
daycare
system
and
the
other
the
black
pages
of
new
england.
O
But
that
is
not
the
reality
for
far
too
many
black
families
in
boston
families
should
not
have
to
leave
this
city
to
find
economic
opportunity
as
americans
and
those
seeking
a
better
life
in
this
country.
We
all
want
the
same
thing
to
work,
enjoy
the
fruit
of
our
labor
and
set
the
next
generation
up
for
success.
O
This
city
has
indeed
been
good
to
many
and
is
trying
to
be
intentional
about
inclusion
and
belonging.
We
have
a
vibrant
immigrant
community
we've
seen
women's
advancement
begin
to
take
flight
in
the
city.
Our
lgbtq
brothers
and
sisters
have
a
rising
voice
and
influence
in
our
city,
but
our
black
community,
despite
our
generations
of
work,
commitment
and
belief,
has
yet
to
experience
the
full
benefit
of
being
bostonians.
O
Dr
kamara
reminded
us
about
the
2015
fed
study,
citing
the
wealth
disparity
experience
by
black
bostonians,
and
there
is
more
data
available
to
us,
demonstrating
this
crisis
that
exists
relative
to
economic
opportunity.
We
need
more
time
with
dr
kamara
in
2020.
The
boston
branch
commissioned
a
report
by
dr
james
jennings.
That
report
includes
solutions
for
the
challenges.
Some
of
the
challenges
that
exist
for
black
boston,
like
the
staggering
unemployment
rate
dis,
staggering
disparate
unemployment
rate
for
black
bostonians
at
about
13.2.
O
A
P
Thank
you,
chair
mejia
and
councillor
bach,
for
your
leadership
in
hosting
this
conversation
I'll
join
my
sisters,
tanisha
yvette
and
aziza.
Thank
you
for
your
sisterhood
and
your
partnership.
My
name
again
is
tammy
tai,
I'm
a
resident
of
dorchester
representing
king
boston,
we're
a
non-profit
working
closely
with
the
city
to
create
a
living
memorial
and
programs
honoring
the
legacy
of
dr
martin
luther
king,
jr
and
coretta
scott
king.
P
The
denial
of
the
right
to
training
began
in
bondage,
with
criminal
punishment
upon
any
individual
who
learned
or
helped
that
individual
to
study,
government
sanctuary,
support
for
double
separate
and
inconsistent
education
from
post-slavery
to
the
president
resulted
in
subpar
training
and
in
boston.
A
legacy
of
city-sanctioned
policies
and
practices
continues
to
disproportionately
harm
black
students
today
producing
and
maintaining
an
apartheid
educational
system
for
our
black
students
in
2019.
P
Only
25
percent
of
the
city's
third
to
eighth
grade
black
students
were
reading
at
grade
level
compared
to
62
percent
of
white
students
and
21
percent
of
black
students,
met
or
exceeded
expectations
on
the
math
mcas,
in
contrast
to
62
percent
of
white
students
and
73
percent
of
asian
students.
These
large
performance
gaps
have
devastating
consequences.
P
These
troubling
racial
disparities
are
perpetuated
by
a
stark
resource
and
opportunity
gap
undergirded
by
a
segregated
and
unequal
school
system
which
boston's
black
community
has
struggled
against
for
over
150
years.
In
1849,
benjamin
roberts
filed
the
first
desegregation
suit.
After
his
daughter,
sarah
was
denied
access
to
a
boston
school
because
she
was
black.
The
state
supreme
judicial
court
upheld
the
city's
right
to
have
separate,
but
equal
schools
for
black
and
white
children.
P
The
supreme
court's
1954
ruling
in
brown
v
board
of
education
that
separate
schools
for
black
and
white
children
were
inherently
equal,
set.
The
stage
for
desegregation
battles
in
many
cities,
including
right
here
in
boston
throughout
the
1960s
black
community
leaders
filed
court,
litigations
testified,
school
committee,
hearings,
organized
marches
and
sit-ins
at
boston,
school
committee
offices
and
periodically
boycotted
public
schools
for
grossly
unequal
school
conditions.
P
For
many
years,
the
boston
school
committee
repeatedly
rejected
the
existence
of
even
de
facto
segregation
in
boston
schools
and
opposed
the
black
community's
demands
for
quality
education,
blaming
any
racial
isolation
solely
on
housing
segregation
and
in
1972,
our
chapter
of
the
naacp
filed
a
federal
class
action
lawsuit
to
show
that
much
in
the
same
way
that
housing
had
been
deliberately
segregated
through
redlining.
The
school
committee
had
deliberately
maintained
an
apartheid
school
system
through
a
host
of
mechanisms.
P
The
plaintiffs,
through
extraordinary
labors
requiring
tedious
and
extensive
documentation
prevailed
and,
in
his
ruling,
u.s
district
court
judge
arthur
gary
stated
the
defendants,
the
boston
school
committee
have
knowingly
carried
out
a
systematic
program
of
segregation
affecting
all
the
city's
students,
teachers
and
school
facilities,
and
have
intentionally
brought
about
and
maintain
a
dual
school
system.
Therefore,
the
entire
school
system
of
boston
is
unconstitutionally
segregated,
in
other
words,
our
city.
Segregation
was
not
accidental.
P
However,
over
the
last
few
decades,
a
series
of
court
decisions,
misguided
government
policies,
have
led
to
increased
re-segregation
of
boston
students
of
colors
into
high-poverty
low-performing
schools,
as
recently
as
2019
77
percent
of
black
students
and
two-thirds
of
all
students
of
color.
In
boston
attended,
intensely
segregated
high
poverty,
schools,
which
received
one
thousand
dollars
less
funding
per
student
when
compared
to
schools
with
lower
concentrations
of
students
of
color.
P
P
King
boston
is
also
working
on
a
comprehensive
harm
report
that
provides
deeper
analysis
around
all
the
topics
that
have
been
discussed
this
morning.
We
look
forward
to
sharing
that
report
with
you
offering
any
other
research
support,
as
you
continue
exploring
reparations.
Thank
you
again
for
your
commitment
and
leadership
around
this
very
important
and
timely
conversation.
A
Thank
you
tammy
for
your
beautiful
presentation
and
remarks.
I
also
just
wanted
to
make
know
dr
tmr
and
I
know
you're
gonna
you're
gonna
be
up
next,
but
before
we
move,
I've
been
advised
that
selena
barrows
miller
needs
to
leave
at
11
45,
which
is
really
unfortunate,
but
would
want
to
make
sure
that
you
get
something.
A
You
have
an
opportunity
to
be
heard
and
I'm
just
hopeful
that
the
administration,
as
we
continue
to
move
in
this
conversation,
recognize
the
importance
of
of
being
here
in
community
and
listening
and
being
able
to
participate
fully
in
the
question
and
answer
portion
of
it.
So
unfortunately,
you
probably
won't
be
here
for
the
questions
but
wanted
to,
at
least
at
the
very
least,
make
sure
that
you
have
an
opportunity
to
to
speak
here
today
with
us
so
selena.
You
now
have
the
floor.
A
R
Thank
you,
councillor,
mejia,
thank
you
to
all
the
organizers
event,
modestine
of
encuentro,
diaspora,
tai
of
king
boston,
as
well
as
aziza
robinson
good
night
just
wanted
to.
For
the
sake
of
time.
Thank
you
to
everyone
else
who's
here.
Thank
you
to
the
panelists
who
have
shared
thus
far
and
who
have
yet
to
testify.
In
terms
of
for
context.
You
know
I
was
born
and
raised
in
boston.
R
This
is
my
home,
my
husband,
I
have
five
kids
all
raised
here
in
the
city
two
still
at
home,
and
so
my
experience
in
this
city
is
not
unique
to
other
bostonians
black
bostonians,
who
were
born
and
raised
here
in
the
sense
of
trying
to
struggle
through
the
the
mixed
signals
that
we
get
from
our
city.
The
mixed
signal
that
somehow,
where
we
stand
with
you
as
black
people,
we
see
your
pain.
We
see
your
plight.
R
We
are
learning
the
history
we
want
to
change
and,
at
the
same
time,
continuing
to
take
actions
that
are
harmful
to
black
people.
That's
a
hard
place
to
be
as
a
black
bostonian
who
is
trying
to
figure
out
where
we're
going
with
all
of
this
right
and-
and
what
I
will
share
is
that
you
know
throughout
my
work
history,
starting
in
the
private
sector
and
nonprofit
world
before
coming
into
government
through
the
federal
government.
R
I
started
as
working
for
the
u.s
air
force
active
duty
assigned
to
the
national
security
agency
as
a
serbian
croatian
linguist,
and
even
in
that
top
secret
space,
where
it
was,
it
was
very
rigid
and
all
of
those
pieces.
There
were
lots
of
policies
and
behaviors
that
were
anti-black,
including
what
was
written
in
the
policy.
R
So
at
the
local
level.
Now
we're
talking
about
kind
of
working,
seeing
the
boston
police
department,
seeing
the
mayor's
office
mayor's
office
of
emergency
management.
Boston,
public
health,
commission
and
later
helping
to
set
up
the
mayor's
office
of
resilience
and
racial
equity
and
in
being
able
to
witness
the
ways
that
our
current
government
structure
does
not
acknowledge
the
black
experience.
R
The
real
challenges
at
the
root
of
our
historical
context
that
most
people
don't
know.
As
many
folks
have
said,
we
don't
learn
it
in
school.
So
of
course
people
don't
know,
including
people
who
look
like
us,
and
so
this
idea
of
of
having
a
reparations
commission
is
I'm
optimistic.
I
would
I
support
it,
and
I'm
also
also
a
bit
cautious
and
here's.
Why?
R
Because,
when
we
put
all
of
the
cards
in
the
hands
of
government-
and
we
don't
start
collaboratively,
what
ends
up
happening,
is
that
people
make
decisions
in
closed
door
rooms
that
they
think
are
best
for
folks?
And
it
doesn't
matter
if
you're,
a
black
person
and
you're
in
a
room.
You
the
there's,
a
diversity
of
experiences
and
perspectives
across
the
black
community,
which
means
that
we
actually
have
to
engage
with
communities
and
not
just
representatives
from
communities
that
we
usually
go
to.
R
We
actually
have
to
have
a
community-wide
process
in
order
to
really
do
this
well.
The
second
piece
is
to
acknowledge
that
there's
a
level
of
betrayal
that
people
have
experienced
with
government,
and
so
the
way
we
usually
start
is
to
ask
people
why
you're
so
upset.
Why
you're
so
angry,
and
that
is
the
wrong
place
to
start,
because
people
have
a
right
to
be
upset
and
angry
and
frustrated
with
the
consistent
betrayal
trauma
they've
experienced.
That
is
a
real
thing.
R
It
is
called
betrayal
trauma
and
it
is
when
an
an
individual
or
an
institution
or
series
of
institutions
that
we
depend
on
for
our
very
survival
and
livelihood
and
well-being
betray
us
and
in
the
case
of
racism,
we
are
constantly
being
betrayed
by
people
and
organizations
with
which
we
have
no
choice
but
to
interact
with,
and
so
when
we
think
about
how
that
plays
out
in
real
life
and
where
we
have
opportunities
so
number
one.
There
is
this:
what
is
explicitly
called
betrayal
blindness?
R
This
idea
that
we
just
don't
see,
we
don't
know
we
don't
remember
all
of
the
atrocities
that
black
people
experience,
including
the
day-to-day
paper
cuts
of
microaggressions
or
the
little
slick
things.
People
say
that
are
harmful
to
our
well-being
and
as
well
as
kind
of
these
more
systemic
structural
experiences
that
are
not
just
historic
or
throughout
history
or
historical
rather,
but
are
still
happening
today
like
today
yesterday.
R
My
great
grandmother,
my
great
great
grandmother,
was
a
sharecropper
and
her
parents
were
enslaved,
and
I
sat
in
the
room
across
all
generations,
listening
to
the
stories
of
how
she
grew
up
and
how
her
parents
grew
up.
So
the
idea
that
it's
so
long
ago
is
is
a
bit
of
a
farce,
particularly
when
you
look
at
the
bigger
context
of
the
history
of
our
country
and
other
countries
for
that
matter,
where
people
are
dealing
with
things
from
thousands
of
years
ago.
R
So
that
said,
I
want
to
land
here
with
this
idea
that
armani
brought
up
this
piece
around
this
thread
between
slavery
and
today
and
the,
and
I
want
to
be
explicit
about
the
thread
so
that,
when
we're
having
these
conversations
that
we're
anchored
in
a
position
of
of
not
leading
with
deficit-based
things,
so
the
the
thread
is
really
about
the
ideas
of
black
people
right.
The
ideas
that
justified
slavery
that
continue
to
perpetuate
are
the
same
ideas
slightly
remixed
right.
R
It's
used
to
excuse
bad
behavior
of
individuals
and
their
individual
and
personal
dysfunctions
that
target
black
people,
and
so
is
as
we're
thinking
about
truth
and
reconciliation
within
the
context
of
reparations
that
there's
this
piece
of
ownership
of
the
roles.
That
of
the
experiences
the
negative
experiences
that
black
people
have
had
in
boston.
R
The
the
grace
that
we
need
to
be
extended
with
pain
and
frustration
that
we're
dealing
with
because
of
those
experiences
and
we're
allowed
to
be
frustrated.
We're
allowed
to
be
upset.
We're
allowed
to
be
angry
because
it's
painful
and
the
goal
is
to
come
to
the
table
and
transition
that
pain
and
that
anger
into
positive,
meaningful
action.
But
we
can't
do
that
by
ourselves.
R
R
When
you
swim
upstream
to
the
root
of
the
idea
that
is
undergirding
it,
it's
actually
harmful
to
bostonians
anytime,
there's
dehumanization,
there's
a
disregard
for
people's
voice,
there's
a
disregard
for
their
life.
That's
a
dangerous
place
that
any
society
is
headed
down
for
black
people
and
for
other
folks
in
our
in
our
city
and
so
I'll
end.
Here
with
the
fact
that
you
know,
james
brown
is
one
of
my
favorites,
so
I'm
gonna
refer
to
james
brown
in
what
many
people
have
heard
before.
But
I'm
gonna
say
it
again.
R
I
don't
want
nobody
to
give
me
nothing
open
up
the
door
and
I'll
get
it
myself
and
in
the
context
of
reparations.
What
we're
saying
and
how
that
relates
is
for
me
personally.
I
hope
that
we
are
able
to
open
up
that
door
for
black
bostonians
so
that
we
can
get
our
return
on
investment
in
this
city.
It's
not
a
handout,
it's
dues
owed
to
people
who
have
or
presently
in
our
ancestors
who
never
will
have
the
chance
to
reap
the
full
benefits
of
all
that
they've
invested
in
this
city
and
in
this
commonwealth.
A
A
So
if
time
is
allotted,
we
would
love
if
you
have
the
time
to
come
back
and
just
speak
on
that
specifically
around
the
health
aspect
of
reparations
in
this
conversation
as
well,
not
to
put
you
on
the
spot,
but
I
may
ask
you
to
come
back
for
a
little
bit
on
that,
but
in
in
the
interest
of
time
and
making
sure
that
that
we
give
selena
barrels-miller
an
opportunity
to
join
us
this
afternoon.
Now
almost
I
would
love
to
call
you
on
the
floor.
Q
I'm
the
selena
barrios
milner,
I'm
the
chief
of
equity
and
inclusion,
and
I
know
that
the
existence
of
my
role
and
my
ability
to
do
my
work
is
thanks
to
the
leadership
of
so
many
of
you
here
and
the
community
that
has
made
equity,
be
at
the
forefront
of
all
of
our
conversations
and
discourse,
and
hopefully
that
will
lead
to
actual
equitable
outcomes
for
our
city
residents
in
the
equity
cabinet.
We
have
eight
departments
that
are
focused
in
various
ways
on
creating
access,
engaging
community
and
delivering
equitable
policy
results
for
our
residents.
Q
Is
that
we're
actually
working
to
try
to
strengthen
some
of
these
programs
and
have
a
community
working
group
to
to
work
on
the
resident
jobs
policy
and
I'll
just
share
in
my
experience,
trying
to
tackle
these
issues
in
the
way
that
they
present
themselves
that
are
digestible
to
the
public,
so,
whether
it's
contracting
numbers
or
local
hiring
numbers
or
did
we
find?
Or
did
we
not
find
every
layer?
Q
You
peel
off,
presents
multiple
layers
of
barriers
for
us
to
move
equity
forward
so,
for
example,
all
of
the
legal
twists
and
turns
you
have
to
take
to
just
set
a
goal
on
a
contract
right
and
then
you
go
look
for
the
businesses
and
the
businesses
don't
have
the
same
access
to
capital.
The
business
owners
don't
have
the
same
access
to
an
education
that
their
white
counterparts
have.
Q
The
the
workers
that
are
working
on
our
construction
sites
are
not
making
the
same
amount
of
money
per
hour
for
doing
the
same
work,
and
so
every
layer
of
this
work
leads
back
to
the
root
of
racism
and
inequity.
That
is
the
foundation
of
not
just
our
country
but
our
city.
So
I
wholeheartedly
support
any
efforts
to
directly
address
that
and
directly
restore
both
through
truth
and
direct
reparations,
the
249
years
of
bondage,
but
the
through
line
that
all
of
you
have
mentioned.
Since
then,
we
have
a
direct
line.
Q
There
hasn't
been
a
pause
or
a
relief
in
the
struggle
for
full
emancipation.
We
see
that
in
the
maternal
mortality
rate,
racial
wealth
gap,
the
makeup
of
our
prison
population,
the
makeup
of
our
our
political
leadership,
which
thankfully,
is
changing
and
every
year
becoming
more
and
more
representative.
But
we
see
the
change
the
the
fact
that
we're
having
this
discussion
today
right
is
because
we
have
now
people
in
positions
of
power
and
academia
in
city
government
in
community.
So
I
just
want
to
end
that.
Q
Q
Q
And
so
I
want
to
encourage
us,
as
we
look
at
establishing
this
commission
and
also
the
commission
on
black
boys
and
men,
that
we
value
the
time
that
people
are
going
to
be
contributing
to
this
and
that
we
build
that
into
the
model.
So
I
really
look
forward
to
any
working
sessions
committing
my
time
and
my
team.
I
know
that
we
have
our
chief
of
staff
that
will
be
here
throughout
the
whole
hearing,
but
I
will
be
in
and
out
pending
the
community
working
group
that
I'll
be
hosting.
A
Thank
you,
selena,
so
encouraged
by
your
overwhelming
enthusiasm
around
what
we're
doing
here
today
and
really
acknowledging
the
importance
of
of
compensation.
I
think
oftentimes
we
invite
people
to
the
table
and
expect
you
know
intellectual
thought
leadership
and
thank
folks
for
showing
up
and
and
never
compensate
them
accordingly.
A
So
I
do
believe
that,
if
we're
really
serious
about
restorative
justice
and
reparations
that
what
better
way
to
do
so
than
to
honor
those
with
their
time
and
energy
through
compensation,
so
thank
you
very
so
very
much
for
for
putting
that
on
the
record,
because
we
can
just
press
rewind
and
and
encourage
our
colleagues
to
recognize
the
importance
of
this.
So
thank
you
for
that.
A
A
A
S
S
My
name
is
cassie
and
fonte,
and
I'm
here
today
to
testify
on
behalf
of
the
black
mass
coalition,
in
partnership
with
king
boston
and
the
new
england
chapter
of
and
cobra,
and
so
the
black
mass
coalition
is
a
statewide
coalition
that
was
convened
last
year
directly
following
the
murder
of
george
floyd
and
really
as
a
response
to
the
subsequent
calls
for
tangible
commitments
and
action
in
honor
of
the
black
lives
matter.
Movement.
S
Our
collective
work
really
centers
on
advocacy
and
accountability
around
the
blueprint
for
our
new
world,
which
outlines
a
set
of
20
racial
equities,
heart
and
justice.
Oriented
targets
and
central
to
our
belief
in
accountability
is
our
commitment
to
reparations
across
all
levels
because
we
view
it
as
a
systemic
approach
to
realizing.
True
racial
justice,
the
ultimate
goal
of
our
coalition
is
to
establish
a
reconstruction
and
rehabilitation
fund
that
will
total
no
less
than
1
billion
dollars
before
2030.
That
will
support
local
reparation
efforts
and
we
are
well
on
our
way.
S
One
example
of
how
this
model
can
succeed
via
community
engagement
is
evanston
illinois
and
the
reparations
fund.
They
are
being
funded
by
the
cannabis
sales
and
boston
stands
so
much
to
learn
from
an
example
such
as
evanston,
and
the
urgency
around
this
moment
has
never
been
more
apparent,
as
our
advocacy
experts
have
have
really
illustrated
for
us
today.
A
Thank
you
for
that
and
just
I
have
been
notified
that
I
am
off
script.
I
made
a
mistake.
Sorry,
I
am
going
back
to
our
panel
too,
because
we'd
love
to
give
an
opportunity
for
questions
for
our
our
previous
panels,
so
I
believe
counselor
bach,
I'm
going
to
go
to
you
first,
and
this
includes
our
previous
speakers.
So
any
questions
that
you
have
please
bring
them
to
the
floor.
G
Sure,
thank
you
so
much
councillor
mejia
and
thank
you
to
all
the
speakers.
That
was
such
a
rich
set
of
comments,
and
so
it's
hard
to
it's
hard
to
zoom
in
on
any
one
thing
to
ask
questions
about.
I
guess
I
I
wonder
if
anybody
would
like
to
speak
specifically
sort
of
in
the
same
direction
as
I
asked
dr
kamara
when
you
think
about
about
models
that
may
have
been
used
elsewhere
about
really
key
components
for
using
the
commission.
G
G
Just
if,
if
there's
anything
in
particular
that
people
didn't
get
a
chance
to
say
in
their
remarks
that
you
think
is
going
to
be
really
important
to
bear
in
mind
in
the
next
stage,
so
sort
of
more
on
that
I
feel
like
so
many
of
the
comments
were
about
why
we
need
this,
which
I
think
is
really
important
to
get
out
in
the
public
realm.
I
strongly
agree
so
sort
of
asking
that
next
stage,
as
we
think
about
actually
getting
this.
O
So
counselor
bach
tanisha,
sullivan
and
naacp
boston.
I
appreciate
the
question
and
it
is
an
important
one
to
be
answered.
We
actually
have
in
panel
three
sister
yvette
modeston
will
be
providing
really
some
deep
insight
about
the
various
models
that
exist
and
where
we
may
go
potentially
as
a
city
on
this,
so
I
might,
unless
yvette,
you
feel
otherwise
might
defer
that
question
to
your
panel.
Your
expert
testimony
on
that
issue.
A
Actually,
do
you
mind,
I'm
gonna
do
things
out
of
order.
I
I
think
that
it's
important
for
us
to
even
that,
if
you
don't
mind,
I'm
gonna
jump
you
up
to
now,
because
I
think
it's
important
for
us
to
set
the
stage
for
what
this
looks
like
before.
We
continue
with
public
testimony
and
lay
down
the
foundation
for
this
work.
So
I'm
gonna
move
you
up
instead
of
panel
three,
I'm
gonna
bring
you
right
in
right
now.
Do
you
mind?
I'm
sorry?
A
No
I
I
don't
mind
I
I
am
was
supposed
to
be
panel
three,
so
that's
that's
good.
Can
you
hear
me
yeah
greetings
everyone
good
afternoon
giving
thanks
to
those
who
showed
as
we
stand
on
greetings
to
all
the
city
councillors
who
have
joined
us
greetings,
a
special
greetings
to
councillor
mahia
and
councillor
bach,
for
bringing
this
forth
to
the
team,
tanisha
tammy
and
aziza
much
respect.
This
is
our
time
reparations
now.
A
A
A
As
you
saw,
we
had
two
our
stellar
historians
that
are
here
in
boston
in
our
boston
institution
at
umass,
boston,
both
professor
jamidari
kamara
and
dr
vandermeer.
Both
doctors
are
members
of
the
africana
studies
department
at
umass,
boston,
so
the
the
california
model,
the
task
force,
will
inform
californians
about
slavery
and
explore
ways
the
state
might
provide
reparations.
Its
members
will
meet
over
the
next
year
and
conclude
their
work
with
a
written
report,
along
with
recommendations
which
will
be
provided
to
the
legislation.
A
The
bill
in
creating
the
task
force
is
required
that
it
has
an
expertise
and
the
civil
rights
and
the
community
all
involved.
Each
community
task
force
begins
with
an
hour
of
community
testimony
which
allows
members
of
the
public
to
share
their
thoughts
and
opinions,
and
I
can't
say
how
how
important
that
is.
As
a
narc
commissioner,
I've
had
the
honor
to
travel
all
around
the
country
and
sit
and
hear
community
testimonies
from
folks
in
atlanta
and
new
orleans
and
new
jersey
and
newark.
A
So
the
community
needs
to
be
engaged
in
this
conversation,
because
the
community
has
a
different
reality
that
some
of
us
may
see
on
a
daily
basis.
I
learned
two
things
you
know,
and
I
want
to
put
it
into
context
of
why
I
think
this
is
important.
My
years
in
doing
this
work
here
in
boston,
I
was
definitely
shaped
by
the
the
two
men
that
you
heard
open
up
this
conversation,
but
city
councilor,
chuck
turner
for
the
years
that
he
sat
as
a
city
councillor.
A
I
sat
on
his
district
seven
7
community
round
table
and
I
was
floored
by
saturday
mornings,
snowing
thunderstorms
and
he
did
his
meetings
every
saturday
at
the
white
church
and
no
matter
what
the
weather
the
community
came,
no
matter
what
the
situation
the
community
came.
So
we
need
a
space
for
the
community
to
come
to
speak
and
share
their
stories.
We
need
to
hear
the
communities
reality.
A
So
julia
just
to
be
clear
on
on
our
floor,
are
we
going
to
do
more
testimonies
and
then
come
back,
because
we
have
sort
of
the
the
proposal
around
models
and
next
steps
that
we
are
proposing?
So
how
do
we
want
to
go
so
from
what
I'm
understanding
we're
going
to
do
questions
and
then
we're
going
to
get
some
testimonies,
yeah
and
then
I'll
close
out
yeah
and
we
still
haven't
heard
from
the
administration,
so
we
need
to
also
bring
them
into
it.
Okay
sounds
good.
O
I
you
know
I
certainly.
This
is
well
documented.
Certainly,
the
boston
public
health
commission
has
done
tremendous
work
in
this
space,
and
you
know
the
the
in,
in
fact,
is
one
of
the
national
models
on
this
particular
issue.
But
I
do
think
that,
as
we
move
forward
in
this
work,
it
will
be
critically
important
for
us
to
hear
from
many
of
the
experts.
R
Thank
you
for
that
actually
tanisha,
president
sullivan
and
so
councilor
mejia
called
me
out
for
not
actually
speaking
to
some
of
those
issues.
So
thank
you.
Councilman.
Thank
you
for
tanisha
sullivan
for
bringing
that
up,
and
my
apologies
tanisha
for
leaving
you
out
of
thank
yous
from
earlier
in
terms
of
folks
who
organized
this.
R
So
my
apologies
for
that,
as
well
as
counselor
bach,
so
just
to
be
very
explicit,
no
matter
which
determinant
of
health
you
look
at,
whether
it's
housing
income,
wealth,
kind
of
infrastructure,
available
or
not
available
in
communities
and
the
resulting
health
outcomes.
When
you
start
to
look
at
asthma,
heart
diseases
different
types
of
heart
diseases.
R
R
O
And
then
again,
it's
councillor
mejia.
Thank
you
for
the
opportunity
just
to
again
kind
of
put
some
additional
things
into
the
space.
You
know
we
have,
through
our
planning,
try
to
be
very
intentional
about
using
this
time
to
put
on
the
record
those
areas
that
we
would
that
we
believe
need
to
be
part
of
the
conversation
and
this
work
moving
forward.
O
We
know,
historically,
the
origins
of
policing
in
our
country
and
as
the
first
police
department
in
in
the
country,
boston
is
certainly
not
immune
to
much
of
the
structural
racism
that
we
see
borne
out
in
other
parts
of
the
country,
knowing
that
the
origins
of
policing
in
our
country
come
from
the
slave
trade
and
the
the
recapture
of
enslaved
people.
And
again
we
have
to
dig
into
that
history
recognizing
that
we
here
in
boston,
have
the
very
first
established
police
department
in
our
nation.
O
A
So
I
I
guess
what
I
think
we're
going
to
change
things
a
little
bit
around
and
I'm
going
to
and
I'm
going
to
ask
yvette
to
shake
her
head
if
this
sounds
right
to
you,
but
with
any
confirmation
from
my
co-pilots
here
that
we're
going
to
move
on
to
having
events
start
off
with
her
presentation.
Does
that
sound
good?
A
If
y'all
can
give
me
a
verbal,
I
didn't
I
didn't,
we
didn't
communicate,
I'm
not
sure
because
we
went
off,
but
I
really
the
the
whole
point
of
I'm
closing
is
the
models,
but
we
wanted
to
give
the
community
an
opportunity
to
speak
and
community
has
been
sitting
with
us
for
the
last
two
hours.
I
want
to
honor
that
we
really
wanted
that
to
be
a
part
of
our
process
so
that
that
reality
would
be
heard.
So
I
would
love
to
open
it
up
for
the
community
testimonies
as
planned.
A
I
will
capture
and
listen
as
we
go
to
be
able
to
close
out
and
highlight
the
community
testimonies
in
our
closing
remarks.
So
I
I
you
know
this
is
about
the
community.
So
let's
hear
we
are
community,
but
let's
all
go
even
deeper.
Let's
hear
from
our
community
that
took
the
time
to
be
with
here
with
us
today.
Yes,
so
do
you
see
how
we're
modeling
behavior
and
what
it
looks
like
to
step
to
the
side
and
let
our
our
community
lead?
So
thank
you
for
that
guidance
and
direction.
A
So,
let's
do
just
that,
which
is
what
I
initially
started
doing,
that
I
had
to
derail
the
whole
conversation
here.
So,
let's
go
to,
I
believe,
we're
going
to
cindy
alexis
scott
christine
if
we
can
allow
sydney
to
come
on
in
and
then
we're
going
to
be
followed
by
michael
curry
and
then
reggie
from
reggie
from
boston
gmail.com.
That's
what
I
have
so,
let's,
let's
line
up
those
three
and
then
we
can
keep
the
conversation
moving,
so
sydney
cindy.
I
hope
I'm
saying
it
right.
You
not
have
the
floor.
U
Thank
you
so
much
hi
everyone.
My
name
is
sydney,
scott
and
I
am
a
senior
at
columbia
university-
and
I
am
here
today
to
advocate
for
reparations
for
black
and
indigenous
americans
on
behalf
of
the
amendment
project,
which
is
an
organization
that
mobilizes
young
people
and
students
to
advocate
for
reparations.
So
I
will
just
be
quick.
U
It's
been
an
absolute
honor
to
hear
the
remarks
today,
and
I
am
really
grateful
for
the
opportunity
to
add
to
add
my
remarks
to
to
what
has
already
been
shared
efforts
by
black
and
indigenous
americans
to
accumulate
wealth
have
been
systemically
thwarted
by
government
policies
directly
or
through
government-endorsed
violence
throughout
all
of
history.
For
most
of
the
16th
century,
the
majority
of
enslaved
people
in
new
england
were
indigenous
people
and
that
shifted
in
the
18th
century
when
there
was
more
access
to
the
african
slave
market
and
today
boston.
U
You
know
it's
been
said
before
it
can
be
said
again.
The
average
net
wealth
for
white
households
is
247
thousand
dollars
and
the
average
net
wealth
for
black
households
is
just
eight
dollars
and
it
is
not
because
we're
not
working
hard
enough.
It
is
because
there
have
been
compounding
effects
of
systemic
racism
that
have
never
been
comprehensively
acknowledged
and
rectified,
and
the
lineage
of
racial
inequality
is
temporarily
ubiquitous.
U
We
can't
sequester
slavery
as
a
violent
tragedy
of
the
past
without
acknowledging
what
it
spawned,
which
is
redlining
and
predatory
mortgage
loans
and
education
systems
that
were
segregated
both
by
law
and
in
practice,
and
so
the
last
thing
that
I'll
add
is
that
this
advocacy
is
also
personal.
My
grandfather
owns
the
oldest
black
owned
pharmacy
in
the
country
he
was
born
in
1930.
He
didn't
have
a
pair
of
shoes
until
he
was
at
the
age.
U
When
I
was
studying
long
division
in
school
and
he
was
very
lucky,
he
was
hard-working,
but
he
was
lucky.
He
had
access
to
white
wealth
and
I
am
essentially
living
proof
of
what
is
possible
when
black
people
are
given
the
opportunity
to
accumulate
the
wealth
needed
to
take
care
of
their
families,
and
I
am
an
exception
when
I
should
be
the
rule.
So
pursuing
reparations
is
a
long
process.
U
A
A
E
Yep
all
right,
my
name
is
isabel
depina.
I
am
the
president
of
public
higher
education.
I
work
in
massachusetts.
I
was
raised
in
boston.
I
am
a
voter.
I
am
active
in
my
community
in
foreclosure.
I
am
very
invested
in
urging
for
racial
eq
equity
in
boston.
Please
accept
this
statement
for,
for
the
public
record
regarding
dark
0734.
E
Our
black
communities
deserve
reparation
due
to
the
fact
they
have
disadvantage
in
this
america
system,
an
example
that
they
deserve
reparation
is
there
were
slaves
of
this
country
forced
to
work,
free
labor,
and
now
we
stuck
in
the
system
that
wasn't
meant
for
us.
I
am
a
low
income
and
a
single
mother
of
two,
and
I
want
my
children
not
to
go
through
the
system
that
wasn't
meant
for
them.
E
I
am
getting
my
labor
study
ba
and
my
master
and
confident
resolution
not
only
to
fight
for
justice
but
to
make
wealth
for
my
children
and
grandchildren
granddaughter.
I
can't
transfer
any
wealth
to
my
children.
Please
be
a
role
model
for
other
cities
and
states
to
make
sure
our
black
communities
get
if
we
are
practicing
anti-racist.
E
E
A
V
V
V
Not
only
how
many
white
folks
don't
know
american
history,
but
how
many
people
generally,
including
african
americans,
don't
know
american
history.
So
I'm
going
to
just
take
a
few
seconds,
as
I
know,
we're
limited
in
time
on
what's
covered
here.
Carter
g
woodson,
the
founder
of
negro
history
week,
which
we
now
know
as
black
history
month
reminded
us
that
history
was
not
the
mere
gathering
of
facts.
The
object.
The
object
of
historical
study
is
to
arrive
at
a
reasonable
interpretation
of
the
facts.
V
So
during
that
presentation
I
talk
about
nearly
4
million
slaves,
with
a
market
value
estimated
to
be
between
3.1
and
3.6
billion
dollars
lived
in
the
u.s
just
before
the
civil
war
and
masters
enjoyed
a
rate
of
return
on
those
slaves
comparable
to
other
products.
Like
cotton,
we
don't
often
recognize
the
value
of
slaves.
We
having
this
debate
in
congress
right
now
on
us
around
a
stimulus
bill,
one
trillion
three
trillion
dollars,
we're
talking
about
19th
century
dollars
and
four
million
slaves
and
the
market
value
of
those
slaves.
V
I'm
going
to
offer
up
a
homework
assignment
to
those
on
the
call
today
to
read
a
book
called
slavery's
capitalism,
so
even
as
you
counselor
and
your
colleagues
are
doing
work
in
this
space,
I
want
to
encourage
folks
to
read
slavery's
capitalism
and
I'm
just
going
to
read
a
quick
excerpt
in
the
decades
between
the
american
revolution
and
the
civil
war
slavery
as
a
source
of
cotton
that
fed
rhode,
island's
mills
as
a
source
of
wealth
that
filled
new
york's
banks
as
a
source
of
markets
that
inspired
massachusetts.
Manufacturers
proved
indispensable
to
national
economic
development.
V
So
I
walk
through
what
redlining
is
and
give
the
the
history
of
redlining
I
walk
through
who
got
bank
in
this
country,
and
people
have
often
cited
the
federal
reserve
bank
of
boston's
report,
but
there
are
federal
reports
that
we
need
to
look
at
as
well.
Around
reparations
the
average
net
worth
per
capita
among
white
americans
is
roughly
437
000
per
person,
whereas
the
value
is
105
000
among
black
people
and
53
000
among
hispanic
people.
V
According
to
data
from
the
federal
reserve
in
1990
white
households,
owned
90.7
percent
of
household
wealth
in
the
united
states,
whereas
black
households
owned
3.8
and
hispanic
households
owned
2.1,
we
talk
about
who
got
bank
it's.
It's
really
important
to
unpack
those
numbers.
I
will
say
this
just
quickly
counselor,
when
I
do
this
presentation
across
the
country.
I
started
this
way.
I'm
a
kid
of
roxbury
born
at
boston
city
hospital.
Raising
linux
street
housing
projects
then
moved
up
to
quincy
street
townsend
street
area.
V
During
the
80s
and
90s
I
tell
people
when
I
walked
out
my
door,
whether
it
was
linux
street
or
blue
hill
avenue.
I
saw
large
numbers
of
african-american
men
being
incarcerated,
arrested
and
incarcerated.
Almost
all
of
my
uncles
and
aunts
had
diabetes
and
heart
disease
and
cancer
and
died
at
higher
rates
living
5
10.
15
years
less.
V
We
saw
murder
in
our
communities
at
high
rates.
When
we
went
downtown
to
go
shopping.
We
were
followed
around
department
stores
and
what
what
that
told
me
counselor
is
this:
what
is
wrong
with
us?
That's
in
you're,
five
or
you're
10
or
you're
15
or
you're
20
in
boston.
What
is
it
wrong
with
us
when
you
live
in
our
communities?
And
you
see
your
people
living
in
those
conditions,
then
I
visited
family
in
birmingham.
They
lived
the
same
way.
Then
I
visited
family
in
atlanta.
They
lived
the
same
way.
V
I
visited
family
in
rochester
new
york.
They
were
living
the
same
way
and
you
can't
help
but
to
ask
the
question:
what
is
wrong
with
us
and
it's
not
until
I
stepped
foot
on
a
college
campus
and
became
an
african-american
studies
student
that
I
got
the
context:
the
importance
of
history,
that
I
got:
the
redlining,
the
debt
peonage
the
fact
that
even
after
slavery
folks
found
out,
they
were
not
slaves,
but
then
they
were
told,
oh
by
the
way
you
now
owe
me
for
the
land
you
lived
on
for
the
food
you
ate.
V
Now
you
can't
leave
and
if
you
try
to
leave
you're
going
to
be
incarcerated.
So
I
bring
this
forward
to
this
conversation.
Council
to
say
this:
there's
rich
data
and
rich
research
around
reparations
looking
at
evanston
and
in
the
reparations
bill
that
they
put
forward.
Looking
at
what's
happened
in
college
campuses,
as
students
have
stood
up
across
this
country
to
call
for
reparations.
George
george
washington,
university
and
others
are
really
testaments
to
what
can
what
can
happen
when
there's
a
concerted
effort
to
look
at
reparations
and
repositioning
black
america?
A
A
So
so
thank
you,
michael,
so
very
much
for
that,
but
I
definitely
want
to
make
sure
that
we
have
time
for
for
others.
So
I'm
going
to
ask
the
next
set
of
speakers,
and
then
we're
going
to
do
is
going
to
take
a
few
more
public
testimonies
in
the
spirit
of
leading
with
community,
and
then
I'm
gonna
go
to
one
of
our
panels
and
then
go
back
to
some
community
testimony
and
then
finalize
it
with
some
with
event
wrapping
us
all
up
here.
So
I'm
going
to
set
the
timer.
A
W
W
Thank
you,
counselors
bach
and
mejia
for
asking
how
reparations
should
be
paid
and
not
if
they
should
be
paid.
That's
an
important
distinction.
I'm
glad
you
recognize
it.
Thank
you
in
particular
councillor
mejia,
for
your
solidarity
and
engagement
with
the
african-american
community
and
for
allowing
that
to
inform
your
policy-making
decisions,
and
it
certainly
informs
my
voting
behavior
now,
while
it's
true
that
reparations
and
reparative
actions
can
take
many
forms
and
has
many
models,
any
discussion
around
reparations
for
slavery
and
jim
crow.
That
does
not
explicitly
propose
a
transfer
of
wealth
to
the
descendants
of
slavery.
W
For
that
group's
unique
experience
of
targeted
multi-generational
theft
is
not
a
serious
discussion.
We
can't
ignore
that
the
primary
reason
for
which
my
ancestors
were
enslaved
here
was
to
extract
wealth.
Wealth
was,
and
continues
to
be,
plundered.
The
stolen
wealth
is
still
a
part
of
our
local
and
national
economic
systems
and
has
grown
exponentially
over
time.
What
has
also
compounded
is
the
poverty
disinvestment
and
a
crude
disadvantage
born
on
the
backs
of
descendants
of
slavery.
W
W
That
said,
it's
critical
to
recognize
that
a
project
of
authentic
and
lasting
repair
for
the
harms
of
slavery
and
jim
crow
is
far
beyond
the
capacity
of
any
local
or
state
government.
So
any
actions
that
come
out
of
this
body
should
have
that
as
a
focus
to
put
pressure
on
the
federal
government
and
for
an
appropriate
example
of
preparations
policy.
W
I
would
direct
the
council's
members
to
the
federal
reparations
framework
developed
by
the
american
descendants
of
slavery,
advocacy
foundation,
and
I
urge
the
counselors
to
follow
the
lead
of
the
foundation,
as
you
advocate
for
reparations
on
our
behalf
to
the
federal
government.
Thank
you
again
very
much.
Julia
and
I'll
see
you
at
the
polls.
Next
tuesday.
A
X
My
name
is
katie
sanson,
I'm
an
attorney
and
director
of
the
racial
redress
and
reparations
lab
at
the
civil
rights
and
restorative
justice.
Project
for
crrj,
based
at
northeastern
university
school
of
law
and
founded
by
professor
margaret
burnham
crj
is
a
preeminent
academic
center
for
the
study
of
historical
redress
in
the
united
states
and
our
racial
redress
and
reparations
lab
offers
expertise
in
designing
reparative
processes
and
historical
and
legal
research.
X
Crj's
historical
research
documents,
a
pattern
of
racial
violence
and
oppression
that
persisted
long
after
the
abolition
of
slavery.
Our
work
also
documents
the
intergenerational
effects
of
this
past
and
the
ways
families
today
are
still
affected
by
the
loss
of
accumulated
wealth,
land
and
job
and
educational
opportunities
and
by
the
trauma
that
has
passed
from
generation
to
generation.
X
We
believe
that
compiling
a
full
accounting
of
the
wrongs
committed
is
an
essential
first
step
towards
repair,
and
we
hope
that
the
city
of
boston
will
continue
to
probe
not
only
the
city's
history
with
slavery,
but
also
the
systemic
racism
and
discriminatory
policies
and
practices
that
have
continued
for
decades.
After
in
the
ongoing
legacies
of
these
practices,
thank
you
again
for
your
time
and
for
your
attention
to
this
topic.
A
A
I'm
going
to
go
and
we're
going
to
take
one
more
public
testimony
and
then
we're
gonna
move
on
to
some
of
our
panels
and
then
go
back
to
public
testimony
because
we
definitely
wanted
to
center
the
voices
of
the
people,
and
this
is
kind
of
the
best
way
to
find
middle
ground
around
that.
So
I'm
going
to
go
to
mr
siddiqui,
I
believe,
is
in
the
building
in
the
zoom
here.
A
Y
Okay,
thank
you,
hello.
My
name
is
khalil
sadiq,
I'm
a
community
activist
and
racial
equity
consultant.
I
live
in
chelsea,
but
I've
lived
all
over
the
greater
boston
area
for
the
past
20
years,
while
being
heavily
active
in
community
organizing
center
on
voting
immigrant
rights,
homelessness,
poverty
and
ending
the
system
of
racial
discrimination.
Y
My
family
and
ancestors
descend
from
georgia's
sharecropping.
I
applaud
the
leadership
of
the
boston
city
hall
committee
on
civil
rights
for
holding
this
important
hearing
and
specifically
the
two
sponsors
of
this
matter:
city,
councilor,
kenzie,
bach
and
semi
city
council,
julia
mahia.
Thank
you.
We
must
not
continue
to
kick.
The
repair
can
down
the
street
with
commissions
and
hearings.
Y
Y
American
slavery
and
jim
crow
was
a
national
institution
laid
upon
a
singular
lineage
and
legacy
the
amount
of
money
for
the
repair
demands,
implementing
broad
transformative
policies
for
black
americans,
and
this
is
far
beyond
the
capacity
of
any
city
or
state
body.
This
repair
demands
a
national,
slash,
federal
framework
and
program,
boston,
city
councillors.
Y
Let's
have
the
conversation.
I
fully
endorse
the
american
descendants
of
slavery,
advocacy
foundation's
framework
towards
having
a
national
reparations
framework
and
program
the
founded
advocacy
foundation.
Scholarly
work
has
convinced
me
that
they
are
leaders
in
the
space
of
reparation
education
and
advocacy.
Y
I
encourage
all
those
who
believe
in
accountability
and
in
repair
to
end
the
legacy
of
systemic
racism
and
historical
disadvantages
of
black
americans
by
tying
your
vote
to
candidates
who
only
support
a
national,
slash,
federal
reparation
framework
and
program.
Thank
you
for
your
time
and
attention.
Committee,
members
and
viewers.
J
A
Z
Yes,
thank
thank
you
councilwoman
julian
here.
I
want
to
thank
the
committee
on
civil
rights,
I'd
like
to
acknowledge
the
assumed
esteemed
panel
panelists,
some
of
who
are
friends
of
mine
and
a
special
shout
out
to
councilwoman
julia
mejia
and
kinsey
bach
for
sponsoring
the
support
piece
of
legislation,
and
my
name
is
sean
fontes.
I'm
a
black
bostonian
born
and
raised.
I'm
a
lawyer
and
my
ancestors
descend
from
the
plantations
of
virginia.
Z
Z
Z
Secondly,
with
respect
to
the
importance
of
this
being,
an
american
jurisprudence
model
is
that
in
some
spaces
and
even
in
the
language
of
this
legislation,
there
is
reference
to
an
international
law.
I
would
caution
this
committee
in
using
a
international
law
approach,
because
I
think
that
history
has
shown
repeatedly
that
the
united
states
has
a
history
of
being
contemptuous
and
dismissive
of
international
law
when
the
united
states
doesn't
endorse
international
law
policies.
Z
We
recently
saw
that
in
last
month,
during
the
u.n
convention
on
reparations
during
the
during
this
during
this
particular
during
this
particular
convention,
the
united
states
never
appeared
or
never
showed
up
to
the
u.n
to
even
have
this
discussion
about
reparations,
because
it
was
not
a
topic
that
the
united
states
was
interested
in.
So
therefore,
I
would
caution
again
caution
this
committee
from
looking
at
an
international
approach.
A
A
Thank
you.
Thank
you,
sean.
Thank
you
so
very
much.
I
wanted
to
just
keep
the
the
conversation
going
and
I'm
gonna
just
switch
things
a
little
bit
out
of
order
here
we're
going
to
move
on
to
the
administration.
I
know
you
guys
have
been
so
incredibly
generous
with
your
time.
We'd
love,
to
give
you
an
opportunity
to
participate
in
the
panel
and
then
would
open
it
up
for
some
questions
and
then
move
on
to
a
little
bit
more
public
testimony
and
then
I'm
closing
out
with
yvette.
A
T
Thank
you
so
much
counselor
bach.
Can
you
guys
hear
me?
Can
everyone
hear
me
yeah?
Okay?
I
wonder
I
certainly
want
to
thank
you.
I
want
to
thank
the
architects
who
have
helped
you.
I
will.
I
don't
mean
to
miss
anybody,
but
the
team
that
has
helped
to
put
this
entire
framework
together.
Certainly,
we
believe
it's
not
only
timely
and
overdue,
in
full
agreement
with
the
statements
that
have
been
mentioned,
thus
far
relative
to
reparations.
T
Now,
what
reparations
should
look
like
recognizing
the
daily
pain,
the
daily
struggle
and
the
daily
impact
of
reparations
and
what
it
has
caused
and
what
it
continues
to
do
for
our
people,
in
addition
to
some
of
the
advancements
that
we
have
made
as
a
people
going
forward,
our
office
is
the
office
of
race,
resilience
and
equity.
I
serve
as
the
chief
here.
Our
work
is
embedded
in
trying
to
dismantle
some
of
these
systems
that
have
been
mentioned
by
previous
speakers
and
by
testimony
relative
to
systemic
race
matters.
T
Some
of
the
work
that
we
try
to
do
really
focuses
on
three
p's
policy
program
and
practice
and
how
it
is
that
we
shift
the
culture
and
the
mindset
and
the
practices
that
serve
the
very
people
who
we
are
all
committed
to
serving
in
the
city
of
boston.
I,
I
am
again
very
grateful
to
be
a
part
part
of
this
conversation.
T
I
most
definitely
want
to
thank
you,
counselor
and
certainly
counselor
bach-
for
for
being
bold
and
courageous,
and
for
putting
this
together
at
this
time
and
in
the
space
that
we
are
in
in
the
city
of
boston,
our
office.
In
addition
to,
of
course,
our
chief
barrels,
milner
and
the
office
of
equity
stand
in
support
of
what
will
come
out
of
this
commission
and
what
will
come
out
of
this
great
work
together.
T
We
offer
our
support
and
our
working
with
you
as
you
mold
this
and
shape
this
for
the
communities
that
we
serve.
I
certainly
am
very
interested
in
hearing
what
the
next
steps
will
be
and
how
to
plug
and
play
and
be
an
intricate
part
of
how
that
will
move
forward,
and
I
do
apologize
as
I
may
have
to
step
off
a
little
early,
but
to
dr
modestine
I'm
so
sorry.
T
I
definitely
want
to
hear
the
recommendations
going
forward,
because
I
do
believe
that
certainly
some
of
the
work
we
have
done
and
we'll
continue
to
do-
will
help
bring
this
city
to
the
place
that
we
needed
to
be.
Our
last
thing
I'll,
say
counselor
is
that
I
want
to
certainly
give
honor
to
king
boston
and
some
of
the
other
persons
on
this
call
who
we
are
tied
and
locked
at
the
hip
with
relative
to
this
work,
moving
forward
in
community
and
for
the
people
we
serve,
and
thank
you
so
much
for
having
us.
A
AA
A
Okay,
that's
okay!
I
appreciate
that
you
just
saved
us
some
time
here
so
so
I'm
looking
at
yvette,
tammy
and
tanisha
and
aziza
shaking
your
heads,
I'm
gonna
move
back
to
some
public
testimony
and
then
go
to
yvette,
see
how
they're
leading
me
y'all
just
want
you
all
to
know
who's
running.
This
show
I'm
just
doing
what
I'm
told
here.
A
A
A
AB
Hello.
That's
me
yes,
excellent,
okay,
so
first
I'd
like
to
say
thank
you,
councillor,
mejia
and
councilman
bach,
for
the
opportunity
to
offer
public
testimony
and
for
holding
hearings
on
this
important
topic.
Thank
you
to
the
panelists
for
the
education
they
have
provided
this
morning.
My
name
is
denia
francis
and
I'm
a
boston
resident
and
a
descendant
of
ancestors
who
were
enslaved
in
alabama
and
mississippi.
AB
A
A
A
A
AC
AC
Reparations
to
me
is
my
inheritance
for
unpaid
labor
and
my
land
denied
some
could
argue,
6.2
quadrillion
dollars.
That's
some
figures
we
have
to
have
in
another
conversation.
That's
federally!
I
want
to
say
first
that
thank
you
guys
for
having
this
meeting.
We
need
to
know
that
reparations
in
evanston
was
a
survey
of
either
or
housing,
education
or
health
care.
In
my
understanding,
we
ain't
doing
that
with
reparations
anymore.
AC
It
needs
to
be
yes
and
it
needs
to
be
800
credit
score
resets
for
every
black
american
protected
class
status
that
inwards
a
hate
crime,
federal
investigations
for
lynching.
We
need
dividends
and
lifetime
payments
from
the
green
rush
and
our
40
acres
and
a
tesla.
We
need
to
update
to
40
acres
in
a
mule.
That
means
clean
industry,
energy
working
with
someone
who
already
has
the
infrastructure.
AC
A
X
C
Yeah
I'm
out
on
a
worksite,
so
I'm
not
really
camera
ready,
but
it's
I'm
a
real
young
and
I
want
to
say
good
day
to
all
the
esteemed
people
of
the
panel
first
off.
I
would
like
to
say
thank
you
for
taking
on
this
monumental
process
as
well
as
thank
you
for
allowing
the
public
to
speak.
I'm
a
black
american
senator
child
of
slavery
and
I'm
calling
on
behalf
of
my
family
members
living
in
once
a
sec
once
what
once
that
was
segregated,
my
top
in
north
dorchester
and
upper
roxbury,
now
steadily
being
gentrified.
C
First
of
all,
I'd
like
to
suggest
that
the
panelists
take
to
read
from
heritage
equality
as
well
upon
the
expert
and
call
upon
the
expertise
of
dr
dairy,
professor,
duke
who
has
written
about
the
reparation
plan
for
the
american
descendants
of
slaves
and
to
identify
the
people
home
with
the
special
consideration
to
the
black
american
senate,
child
of
slavery
and
moving
forward.
I
would
suggest
that
this
panel,
taken
to
special
consideration
of
the
united
nations,
call
to
have
a
true
reparation
process,
which
is
non-repetition
restitution,
compensation,
gratification
and
repair.
C
A
Thank
you
so
very
much
for
that.
I,
and-
and
you
did
it
before
time,
so
thank
you
really
do
appreciate
this
level
of
specificity
and
timeless.
I
believe
we
now.
I
believe
we
now
just
have
one
more
come
out
cam.
I
believe
it's
how
it's
pronounced.
Howard-
and
I
understand
you
are
from
chicago
but
we're
gonna.
Let
you
live,
I'm
gonna!
Let
you
come
into
into
the
space
and
and
share
your
testimony
with
us
here
today.
A
Oh
he's
no
longer
they
are
no
longer.
We
don't
see
you
in
the
room.
Okay,
maybe
chicago
wind
blew
you
away.
So
thank
you
for
your
your
attempt
to
be
here
with
us
today,
so
I'm
gonna
move
on
to
the
are
there
any
other
members
of
the
public
looking
to
do
testimonies,
I'm
going
to
move
on
now
to
our
our
last
panel
and
our
closer
for
for
today's
conversation
is
my
friends
and
my
sister
in
this
work,
who
oh,
I
see
a
hand
up
hold
up.
A
AD
And
I
am
also
I'm
called
from
outer
state-
I
am
from
brooklyn
new
york.
My
my
name
is
constant
jones.
Muhammad,
I'm
a
commissioner
for
mayor
garcetti's
task
force
in
los
angeles,
I'm
the
co-chair
of
the
national
assembly
of
american
slavery,
descendants
which
helped
shirley
weber,
push
the
state
california
bill
ab3121.
AD
In
order
to
have
a
task
force
for
the
state
of
california,
we
were
able
to
write
legislation
into
that
bill.
I'm
also
very
passionate
about
boston,
because
my
family
is
originally
from
scotland.
North
carolina
during
the
great
migration
my
great-grandmother
and
all
of
her
siblings
fled
north
carolina
as
a
result
of
one
their
father
passing
away
and
two
black
women
being
raped
with
impunity
in
scotland,
north
carolina
in
the
two
legs
of
my
family.
One
leg
wound
up
in
boston
where
my
family
still
lives.
AD
AD
A
A
AE
Yeah,
I
just
want
to
say
a
word
or
two.
My
name
is
doctor
ferguson,
I'm
actually
a
professor,
a
umass,
boston
and
human
services
program
director
there,
as
well
as
president
of
the
association
for
humanistic
psychology,
I'm
a
voter
and
I
have
been
actively
involved
in
the
community
for
many
many
years
dealing
with
the
issues
of
racial
equity.
AE
AE
I
actually
grew
up
in
the
segregated
south,
so
I
know
what
that
means,
and
when
I
came
to
the
boston
area,
I
encountered
some
similar
kinds
of
things.
So
it's
important,
however,
to
really
understand
the
essence
of
reparations
and,
as
people
have
said,
the
essence
involves
comprehending
the
central
idea
of
repair
repair
in
terms
of
correcting
the
systemic
narratives
and
inequities
and
the
systemic
disparate
effects
of
those
narratives
and
inequities
on
the
black
community.
AE
AE
A
Thank
you.
Thank
you,
dr
ferguson.
I
got
my
my
text.
Messages
were
blowing
up
that
I
you
know
you're
one
of
our
elders
and
you.
We
definitely
need
to
bring
you
into
this
conversation
to
move
the
work
forward,
so
we
will
be
stalking.
You
soon,
so
very
grateful
for
your
leadership
and
guidance
and
wisdom
in
this
space
here
today.
So
thank
you
for
for
hanging
on
as
long
as
you
did
to
provide
your
public
testimony.
A
I
also
just
want
to
want
to
note
that
I've
been
advised
that
state,
rep
oakley
is
still
with
us
here
and
we
need
to
bring
her
in
to
the
transfer
her
from.
I
guess
she's
in
the
attendees,
if
we
could
bring
her
on
for
her
public
testimony
before
we
move
on
to
our
long-awaited
final
speaker,
yvette
motherstein
you're,
closing
out
the
show
here.
Just
so
you
know
keeping
everybody
on
there
waiting
here.
AF
Hi
councillor
mejia,
thank
you
so
much
I
I
was
just
here
as
as
a
listener
also
descended
from
enslaved
africans.
Well,
I'm
a
second
generation
bostonian,
my
dad's
people
are
from
south
carolina
and
virginia.
My
mom's
people
are
from
alabama
and
so
knowing
as
we
do
that
in
this
country,
we
often
don't
learn
our
history.
I
was
really
just
here
as
a
supporter
and
to
learn
more
about
everything
that
that
reparations,
involve
and
as
such,
I
have
no
prepared
remarks
and
therefore
I
just
want
to
thank
everyone.
AF
You
counselor
mejia,
for
convening
this
body
to
the
city
counselors,
I
heard
andrea
campbell
earlier.
I
see
city
councilor,
kenzie
bach
is
here.
I
know
others
joined
as
well
to
all
of
the
esteemed
panelists,
through
every
portion
of
the
black
and
african
diaspora,
for
sharing
stories
for
dropping
knowledge
for
giving
us
history
and,
quite
honestly,
giving
us
solutions
to
move
forward.
A
All
this
time
we've
been
waiting
for
you
and
you're
on
mute.
Now,
let's
go
off
from
you.
Let's
go
so
thanks.
Juliana,
thanks,
counselor
bach,
thanks
to
the
fabulous
team
of
queens,
tanisha,
tammy
and
aziza,
you
know,
we've
been
texting
and
I'm
deeply
moved,
holding
back
tears
that
we've
made
it
the
meetings
that
we've
had
and
that
we're
sitting
here
today.
I
want
to
start
you
know
by
putting
forth
the
words
of
ida
b
wells.
A
The
way
to
right
wrongs
is
to
turn
the
light
of
truth
upon
them,
and
you
know
we've
been
talking
about
this
conversation
from
a
very
heavy
head
place
and
I
want
to
bring
it
to
a
heart
place
in
the
traveling
in
the
years
of
traveling
around
this
country
and
meeting
people
of
african
scent
black
people
from
all
different
walks
of
life.
One
of
the
things
that
has
been
a
familiar
vibration
of
all
these
people
is
that
they
hurt
and
that
they're
still
hurting.
A
As
said
by
one
of
my
fellow
commissioners,
dr
ray
winbush,
I
wanna
also
like
dr
jamidara
kamara
highlighted,
was
the
work
of
senator
bill
owens,
who
pushed
forth
one
of
the
first
people
in
this
country
to
put
forth
a
reparations
conversation
and
now
h.r
40
is
moving
forward.
30
years
after
senator
john
conyers
has
filed
it.
So
it
is
time
for
boston
to
catch
up
and
lead
in
the
way
that
it
led
before
in
asking
what
is
needed
as
we
move
forward
in
this
reparations
conversation
and
for
boston.
A
I
tapped
into
some
of
my
elders,
who
have
been
national,
spokesperson
and
leaders
in
this
conversation,
such
as
baba,
jeremiah
wright,
dr
joyce,
king
mama,
joanne
watson
and
dr
iva
carruthers,
and
everything
that
every
time
I
ask
them,
what
is
needed?
What
do
we
need
to
highlight?
They
say:
spirituality,
spirituality
is
a
foundation
that
needs
to
be
highlighted
and
celebrated.
We
need
to
heal
internally
for
us
to
then
carry
outside
what
we
need.
That
is
just
for
us
chuck
always
talked
about.
A
A
You
know
I
learned
as
one
of
the
first
group
of
trauma
responders
in
the
city
of
boston
more
than
10
years
ago,
that
even
if
we
went
in
for
that
shooting
and
that
hum
that
homicide
that
suicide,
that
criminal
incident-
that's
that
crime,
that
when
we
walked
in
that
was
not
the
only
conversation
that
we
were
having
with
our
community.
We
then
had
to
listen
to
that
piece
of
that
trauma,
but
then
we
had
to
hear
the
trauma
of
the
housing,
the
trauma
of
the
education,
the
trauma
of
the
busing,
the
trauma
of
the
food.
A
All
of
that
is
part
of
our
reparations
conversation.
I
want
to
highlight
a
piece
that
was
written
by
dr
ajamu
brown,
with
one
of
our
leading
voices
on
this
conversation
of
reparations,
professor
james
jennings,
who
was
not
able
to
be
with
us
today,
and
they
wrote
a
paper
last
year.
That's
called
reparations
is
racially
progressive
economics
and
they
they
state
that
reparations
reparations,
can
be
an
economic
tool
to
both
atone
and
mitigate
the
continuing
impacts
of
historical
injustices,
born
of
continual
structural,
racial
inequalities.
A
This
can
occur
if
we
think
of
reparations
as
a
sort
of
racial,
progressive
keynesian
nation
economics,
given
the
inevitable
rapid,
reconstructing
of
our
global
global
economy.
Due
to
the
coronavirus
pandemic,
which
has
hit
many
working-class
communities
of
color
harder
than
most
and
the
continued
inequality
that
led
to
black's
lives
matter
movement.
The
nation
now
has
an
opportunity
to
seriously
implement
a
robust
reparations
plan
for
black
americans
to
address
its
moral
responsibility
for
past
wrongs.
A
We've
heard
of
the
california
model
we
heard
from
a
sister
directly,
the
california
model
is
charged
with
talking
about
the
informing
californians
about
slavery
and
informing
ways.
I
think
dr
kamara
and
dr
vandermeer
started
that
I
think
we
need
to
expand
on
that.
Kevin
also
spoke
on
that
and
the
issue
of
feynel
hall.
We
need
to
pull
from
that,
and
you
know
tanisha
spoke
of
the
history
of
the
naacp
and
michael
even
touched
on
that.
So
I
think
we
need
to
use
boston's
own
history.
It
is
no
accident.
A
Historically,
the
complete
and
total
appropriation
of
black
women's
domestic
manual
and
reproductive
labor
served
to
firmly
establish
the
economic
foundation
of
the
united
states,
the
use
of
their
bodies
to
reproduce
the
slave
labor
pool
ensured
the
continuing
viability
of
the
southern
slavery
after
the
u.s
officially
abolished
the
transatlantic
slavery
trade
in
1808
by
generate
a
labor
force
perpetrated
independently
of
the
need
to
import
new
slaves
from
africa.
A
labor
force
was
born
into
the
slave
system
as
opposed
to
imported
into
it.
A
So
the
other
model,
also
in
keeping
the
historical
truth
about
boston,
is
the
everson
model
and
they're
using
the
cannabis.
And
you
know
cannabis
is
legal
now
in
massachusetts
and
they're,
using
the
the
money
gained
through
their
cannabis
sales
to
help
in
the
funding.
So
the
funding
of
the
program
comes
from
the
cannabis
sales
tax
revenue
from
evanston's
marijuana
dispensary,
as
well
as
some
of
the
some
of
the
private
contribution,
as
as
of
recent,
the
fund
had
nearly
a
hundred
thousand
dollars,
though
that
reflected
only
through
july
and
august.
A
A
Some
folks
have
mentioned
the
un
model
and
the
u.n
just
speaking,
but
I
wanted
to
you,
know,
break
down
the
ten
points
of
narc,
the
national
african-american
commission
and
then
connect
it
to
what
we
heard
today,
because
I've
been
taking
notes
throughout.
So
the
ten
points
of
the
nart
program
that
I
think
are
important
areas
that
in
tammy,
tanisha
and
ziza
and
julia
and
thinking
about
we
wanted
to
break
it
down
into
specific
areas
like
the
history
of
that
area
and
and
what
is
the
current
state
in
boston?
A
A
Repatriation
is
number
two,
so
creation
of
a
model
that
allows
for
african
knowledge
to
be
led,
amar
amari
spoke
very
strongly
about
land
and
he
talked
about
how
much
land
was
old
in
in
roxbury
and
taken
away
by
black
families
in
roxbury
to
build
highways
that
needs
to
be
repaired
where
the
funds
are
met.
Who
gets
the
funds
you
know
when
we
went
into
covid?
You
know
atiyah
and
those
leaders
that
were
part
of
the
boston
covet
coalition.
A
Black
covet
coalition
really
pushed
on
where
the
funds
were
being
set,
who
got
the
funds
and
how
they
were
going
to
be
distributed?
Health
and
wellness
is
very
important.
I
truly
believe
as
a
as
a
clinician
as
someone
who
was
a
trauma
responder
in
the
streets
of
boston.
If
our
mind
ain't
right,
our
spirit
aren't
right.
Our
movement
is
not
going
to
be
right.
A
In
the
recent
report
by
the
u.n
led
by
michelle
bachelet,
ex-president
of
chile,
she
called
out
this
country
for
its
lack
of
reparative
justice
and
we're
still
in
the
decade
of
people
of
african
descent,
and
one
of
the
highlights
of
that
decade
was
reparative
justice
and
we
saw
ourselves
in
colbit
dealing
with
george
floyd
ahmad
arbury
brianna
taylor,
to
name
a
few,
so
there
is
need
for
a
reparative
justice
on
how
we
are
seen
in
our
humanity.
We
heard
very
passionately
from
isabel
who
talked
about
education
and
our
community
needing
to
really
develop
education.
A
Boston,
public
school
has
been
in
a
real
rift
about
the
inequality
and
the
lack
of
equity
that
exists
in
our
schools,
not
only
just
in
the
education
piece,
but
our
buildings.
The
setup
of
our
buildings
we've
had
issues
with
our
transportation.
All
of
that,
if
not
dealt
with
is,
is
an
issue
of
reparative.
A
Justice
is
an
issue
of
reparations,
number,
seven
housing
and
wealth
and
generation
which
goes
into
the
land,
the
info
and
community
structure
and
our
sacred
sites,
which
kevin
talked
about
in
convenient
hall
and
then
recently
they
just
did
that
and
the
criminal
justice
system
julia.
You
have
been
working
with
my
colleagues,
many
of
our
colleagues,
but
specifically
my
two
colleagues
lee
and
james
from
the
men's
network
and
brothers
building
where
we
have
a
prison
school
to
prison
pipeline.
A
You
know
dr
jamadar
kamara
spoke
about
the
study
of
the
commission
at
the
core
of
it,
and
this
goes
to
what
council
bach
was
speaking
about
at
the
core
of.
It
is
repair,
truth
and
reconciliation,
but
let's
not
get
truth
and
reconciliation
as
a
way
to
avoid
a
deeper
conversation
which
is
race
and
racism
and
oppression.
A
So
we
also
heard
around
the
eight
dollars
from
our
families
from
reggie
spoke
and
still
we're
living
in
marginalized
community.
We
talked
we
heard
from
councillor
campbell
about
adjusting
our
curriculum.
We
need
to
adjust
our
curriculum,
so
these
are
specific
to
boston
that
we
need
to
keep
in
mind
as
we
move
forward
in
thinking
about
the
commission
and
forming
the
commission.
A
Armani
talked
about
the
bpda.
That
needs
to
be
a
real
conversation.
You
know
we've
going
back
and
forth
about
what
should
be
abolished
and
who
should
be
abolished
and
who
should
stay.
Boston
right
now
is
one
of
the
third
most
expensive
places
to
live.
Our
housing
is
the
despair.
What
people
are
making
what
they
can
for
to
pay.
The
rent
does
not
connect.
What
is
our
ami?
What
is
the
the
standard
numbers
that
they're
using
that
really
allows
the
black
community
to
be
seen
in
the
economic
breakup
of
boston?
A
A
You
know
what
I
saw
was
will
never
will
always
stay
with
me
was
listening
to
testimonies
as
a
commissioner
in
new
orleans
and
how
the
pain
of
our
people
and
then
sort
of
using
art
and
giving
space
for
people
to
draw
in
between,
and
what
came
out
of
that,
we
need
to
find
places
to
release
this
internal
pain.
That
may
not.
You
know
as
a
trauma
responder
when
we
say
when
we
go
into
trauma.
We
say
the
trauma
is
in
your
face.
A
What
our
work
is
is
that
we
need
to
move
the
trauma
out
of
our
face
so
that
we
can
see,
but
that
it's
still
there
because
it
will
determine
how
we
move
forward.
So,
let's
keep
that
in
mind,
you
know
boston,
isn't
a
place
to
ask
the
conversation.
What
is
your
relationship
with
the
black
community?
What
is
the
legacy
that
we
want
to
continue
it?
If
we're
not
honest
about
our
behaviors
and
our
policies?
As
michael
brown,
michael
said,
curry
and
also
atiyah
said,
then
we
are
not
having
a
real
conversation.
A
You
know
I
I
could
go
on
and
on
today
was
just
the
beginning:
tanisha
tammy,
aziza
aziz.
Are
you
still
here?
I
want
to
see
you
on
camera
and
julia.
You
know
this
was
our
initial
conversation.
This
was
not
the
beginning
and
ending
this
was
an
opportunity
to
say
to
boston.
It
is
time
to
have
a
reputation,
reparations
conversation.
It
is
time
to
address
the
inequality
that
still
lives.
It
is
time
that,
when
we're
talking
about
reparation,
mass
and
caste
methadone
mile
is
a
part
of
this
conversation,
this
is
boston.
A
I
have
traveled
around
the
world
and
around
the
country
to
see
that
this
is
happening
in
boston.
Is
such
a
conflict
in
the
economic
setup
of
boston?
What
boston
is
historically
and
then
what
we're
seeing
on
methadone
mile?
We
need
to
come
to
terms
with
what
our
truth
is.
What
we
need
to
do
to
repair
katie
spoke
about
the
pattern
of
racial
violence
that
existed
in
boston,
so
boston.
It
is
time
it
is
time
reparations
now
reparations,
now
reparations
now,
ashay
to
that
all
day
every
day.
Thank
you.
Thank
you.
Thank
you.
A
That
was
I.
I
think
that
we
have
our
marching
orders.
I
think
we
have
laid
down
a
foundation
for
what
this
the
next
set
of
action
steps
are
here,
but
I
I
I
wanted
to
I'll.
Also
I
give
dr
vandamir
a
huge
shout
out,
because
his
head,
his
his
whole
entire
class,
have
been
instagramming
me
talking
about
that
they're
listening
in
that
they're
paying
attention.
A
This
is
like
his
second
class
and-
and
so
just
thank
you,
dr
vandamir,
for
allowing
your
students
to
participate
in
this
process
and
and
for
bringing
them
into
to
this
conversation.
It
is
so
incredibly
just
this.
This
is
what
it
looks
like
when
we
bring
everybody
in,
and
so
your
your
efforts
in
bringing
your
students
into
this
conversation.
Two
classes
now
says
a
lot
to
your
commitment
and
to
your
steadfast
conviction
to
what
it
looks
like
to
include
all
so
just
thank
you.
A
I
one
of
your
students
asked
me,
and
I
think
his
name
is
isaiah-
asked
me
to
isaac.
It
was
isaac.
He
asked
me
to
to
to
give
you
a
public
shout
out
and
to
acknowledge
your
hard
work,
so
I'm
doing
that
isaac.
I
got
you
and
thank
you
for
for
for
advocating
on
behalf
of
your
professor.
But
yes,
you
know
this
is
this.
This
particular
hearing
has
been
a
little
bit
non-traditional
right.
A
A
So
so
thank
you
yvette
for
for
grounding
us
in
that
truth
and
and
everyone
who
participated
in
bringing
us
here,
I'm
so
incredibly
encouraged
and
and
in
the
interest
of
time
I
just
wanted
to
ask
my
colleague,
counselor
bach,
you
know
you
you
have
been
listening
in.
I
I'd
love
to
hear
if
you
have
any
additional
questions.
A
G
All
right,
thank
you,
councillor
mejia,
but
I
really
don't
want
to
be
the
one
to
close
this
out.
I
have
been
really
grateful
for
the
time
you
know
we
don't
always
as
counselors
make
time
to
be
there
for
the
whole
hearing,
but
for
me
today
it's
been
really
important.
Listening
to
all
of
what
everybody's
been
saying
and
yeah,
I
just.
G
What's
the
concrete
policy
move,
and
how
do
we
bring
more
people
into
this
conversation?
Yeah,
it
seems
like,
like
you
said
we
have.
We
have
our
marching
orders,
there's
a
lot
of
work
to
do
ahead,
and
I'm
just
grateful
for
everyone
on
this
call's
leadership
and
and
happy
to
be
an
ally
and
a
partner
in
this.
So
thanks
so
much
counselor
mija.
A
Thank
you,
and
I
also
want
to
I'm
going
to
thank
central
staff
for
helping
us
with
running
this
so
smoothly.
Thank
you
so
very
much
and
I
don't
want
to
be
the
one
to
have
the
last
word
so
I'd
like
to
give
each
of
the
women
who
worked
on
organizing
this
panel,
an
opportunity
to
say
their
final
remarks
and
we
will
close
out
with
your
remarks
and
again
thank
you
to
everyone
tune
in
to
the
folks
who
did
testimony,
but
you
won't
hear
be
hearing
from
me
anymore.
A
N
Oh,
this
was
wonderful.
I
I
just
want
to
also
think
the
women
and
everybody
are
our
history,
our
past
everyone,
but
definitely
the
women
that
I
got
to
sit
and
hold
hands
and
fight
with,
and
it
was
that
way
to
be
honest,
but
we
got
it
done
and
we're
here
and
I
want
to
thank
community
in
moving
forward
as
we
really
dig
deep
in
thinking
about
how
we
touch.
You
know
different
people
in
different
ways
and
creative
ways
and
do
some
healing,
because
we
need
that
too.
P
Yeah,
how
do
you
add
anything
just
ashay
and
ahmed
and
I'll
just
point
out
that
what
we
witnessed
here
today
this
is
the
repair
work
beginning
right
so
on
the
road
to
getting
reparations,
is
our
own
repair
and
doing
this
in
community
together.
So
just
julia.
Just
thank
you
for
your
continued
leadership.
Thank
you
for
the
partnership
from
from
everyone.
Who's
working
on
this
together
and
we've
got
more
to
go,
but
we've
taken
that
first
step.
So
thank
you.
O
Thank
you,
a
counselor,
thank
you
again
to
yvette,
aziza
and
tammy,
and
and
thank
you
counselor
bach,
for
your
participation
in
this
hearing.
What
what
we?
What
was
not
said,
I
don't
think
counselor
bach,
is
that
you
know
one
of
the
things
that
was
in
the
early
days
as
we
were
talking
about
this.
One
thing
that
was
really
important
was
for
us
to
center
this,
as
you've
heard
from
dr
camara
and
dr
vandermeer
really
center.
This
and
root
this
in
the
historical
context,
to
help
move
us
forward
and
certainly
want
to.
O
I
want
to
thank
you
all
for
your
work
today,
but
also
your
work
going
forward
and
certainly
to
our
panel
of
experts.
You
are
but
the
tip
of
the
iceberg
of
what
exists
in
this
community,
and
I
look
forward
to
more
conversations
within
community
about
how
we
move
this
work
forward.
But
I
do
want
to
caution
us,
I'm
I'm
I'm
just
gonna
say
it:
we
need
to
move
with
a
sense
of
urgency.
O
O
A
Yes,
y'all
heard
we've
all
been
put
on
notice,
city
councillors,
we're
gonna
move
this
with
urgency,
so
you
all
heard
it
here
first,
and
so
I
I
would
like
to
now
yvette.
You
know-
and
I
I
sit
here
in
deep
appreciation-
and
I
want
to
you
know.
One
of
the
things
that
has
not
been
said
is
that
we
came
together
as
a
group,
but
you
know
we've
all
come
in
as
leaders
in
different
ways.
A
Tammy
with
our
you
know,
keeping
us
organized
technology
wise
as
these
are
reminding
us
about
community,
but
also
tanisha
made
the
first
move
in
going
to
julia
and
say:
let's
get
this
ordinance
filed.
So
let's
set
this
hearing
file,
so
I
want
to
to
folks
to
see
how
much
of
a
collaborative
effort
this
has
been
and,
like
you
know
and
and
that
we
are
standing
in
the
one
thing
that
we
have
common
in
our
movement-
is
that
we
believe
in
the
reparative
justice
of
our
community.
A
So
I
want
to
close
with
the
same
way
we
started
with
baba
tony
giving
libation,
and
I
want
to
close
by
saying:
may
our
ancestors
continue
to
guide
us
on
this
journey?
May
we
continue
to
uplift
the
vibration
and
the
truth
and
the
history
and
the
pain
and
the
joy
of
our
ancestors,
because
even
in
the
midst
of
the
pain
we
still
found
joy
and
even
in
the
midst
of
the
pain,
we
still
sit
with
joy.