Felicia Davis

Justice 40: The Case for Reparations

Felicia Davis

Managing Director, HBCU Green Fund

 

The Black Women’s Roundtable (BWR) is in the forefront of championing justice and equitable public policies.  Despite advocacy over generations, Black women continue to face obstacles in their pursuit of equality and reparative justice. Reparations are often framed as the ultimate solution to address historical injustices and ongoing disparities, the reality is far more complex for Black women.  It is crucial to recognize the unique challenges faced by Black women.  

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• Attacks on Inclusion: Black women’s efforts to increase inclusion through initiatives like Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs are often met with resistance and labeled as racist or unconstitutional.  Despite being the single most marginalized group, Black women encounter opposition when advocating for policies that advance equality of opportunity.

• Erasure of Intersectional Identity: Black women face unique challenges that stem from the intersection of race and gender. By excluding race from criteria for determining disadvantage, policymakers fail to acknowledge the distinct experiences and barriers faced by Black women. This erasure perpetuates the invisibility of Black women's struggles and hinders efforts to address their specific needs.

• Masking Structural Racism: Race-based exclusion obscures the role of systemic racism in perpetuating disadvantage. Black women are disproportionately affected by discriminatory policies and practices in areas such as education, employment, healthcare, and criminal justice. Ignoring race as a factor in determining disadvantage overlooks the structural inequalities that contribute to the marginalization of Black women.

• Neglect of Historical Injustices: Race-neutral approaches ignore the historical injustices and legacies of slavery, segregation, and discrimination that continue to shape the socio-economic status of Black women. By failing to consider the historical context of systemic oppression, policies and initiatives intended to address disadvantage may fall short in effectively supporting Black women and their communities.

 

To successfully address the challenges faced by Black women, policymakers must recognize and prioritize the intersection of race and gender in policies and initiatives aimed at promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Black women are disproportionately impacted by environmental degradation and pollution, which have devastating effects on their health and economic well-being. The intersection of race and environmental injustice highlights the urgent need to address the unique challenges faced by Black communities.  

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With all of its promise, Justice 40 is a policy set forth in Biden Executive Order 14008 (Exec. Order No. 14008, 2021).  The historic federal investment and commitment to Justice40 presents an unprecedented opportunity to rectify systemic environmental injustices.  If Justice40 actually delivers 40 percent of the investment dollars to disadvantaged communities the policy will play a significant role in addressing environmental injustice by investing in sustainable infrastructure, clean energy initiatives, and community development projects that prioritize the health and well-being of Black women and their families. However, just as President Lincoln’s Field Order 15 granting Blacks 40 acres of land was rescinded by Andrew Johnson, Justice 40 can be challenged and undone.  While the policy is in place, Black women must work to ensure that it is beneficial to Black America. However, Black women must not depend upon policy as the ultimate solution.  Powerful forces cannot begin to fathom Black excellence nor entertain the enormous debt owed to Black women. It is imperative that Black women lead the charge for comprehensive solutions, reaching far beyond the status quo.

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The demand for reparations is gaining traction defined by scholars like William Darity Jr. who emphasizes the necessity of direct payments to individuals (Darity, 2023).  Darity also acknowledges the importance of including allocations for education and entrepreneurship.  Recognizing that Black women constitute a significant majority of Black college degree recipients each year, their role in educating the next generation should be prioritized along with efforts to close achievement gaps affecting Black men.

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Education plays a pivotal role in the advancement of Black women, allowing them to transition from low-paying caregiver roles such as cooks, housekeepers, and nannies into more lucrative professional fields.  However, despite their educational achievements, individual efforts alone are insufficient to address the deep economic wounds that have constrained generations of Black women and their families.

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Reparations must encompass a comprehensive approach that recognizes the multifaceted barriers faced by Black women.  Direct payments can provide immediate relief and acknowledge the historical injustices endured by individuals.  Investments in education and entrepreneurship are essential for empowering Black women to achieve economic independence and generational wealth.

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It is imperative that any reparations framework recognizes and addresses the specific needs and contributions of Black women in order to achieve meaningful and lasting economic justice. By prioritizing reparations society can begin to address the systemic inequalities that have marginalized Black women for centuries.

 

References

 

Darity, W. (Ed.). (2023). The Black Reparations Project: A Handbook For Racial Justice. Univ of California Press.

 

Exec. Order No. 14008, 86 F.R. 7619 (2021). https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/DCPD-202100095/pdf/DCPD-202100095.pdf