On November 17, 2020, CRRJ brought descendant families together with longstanding leaders of US reparations movements, racial justice activists, and scholars to discuss avenues for compensatory reparations and other forms of individual and community repair. Panelists explored fundamental questions at the heart of a successful case for reparations: (1) why reparations for lynching; (2) what modes of redress; and (3) from whom should descendants and the collectivities they represent seek reparations? Discussants addressed several projects of historical redress, including the Chicago Torture Justice memorials, the Rosewood, Florida project, and the Civil Liberties Act of 1988. After the public forum descendants held workshops with a group of experts to discuss strategy.
Date:
November 17, 2020
Location:
Virtual gathering via Zoom
Presenters:
- Margaret Burnham, CRRJ
- Evan Lewis, great-grandson of Lent Shaw (d.1936)
- Nicole Aljoe, Northeastern University, Director of the Africana Studies Program
- Congressperson Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX)
- Dread Scott, Visual artist
- Quanda Johnson, descendant of Anthony Crawford (d.1916)
- Evan Lewis, great grandson of Lent Shaw (d.1936)
- Sheila Moss, granddaughter of Henry “Peg” Gilbert (d.1947)
- Annie Whitlock, daughter of Russell Charley (d.1954)
- Thomas Moore, brother of Charles Moore (d.1964)
- Angela Y. Davis, University of California-Santa Cruz
- Ta-Nehisi Coates, author and journalist
- Ron Daniels, President of The Institute of the Black World 21st Century (IBW21) and convener of the National African American Reparations Commission (NAARC)
- William “Sandy” Darity, Duke University, Samuel DuBois Cook Distinguished Professor of Public Policy
- Ángel Nieves, Northeastern University, Africana Studies
- Maxine Jones, Florida State University, History
- Joey Mogul, People’s Law Office, Chicago
- Nkechi Taifa, National Coalition of Blacks for Reparations in America
- Paul Watanabe, University of Massachusetts Boston, Political Science
Morning Remarks
00:00 – Dr. Margaret Burnham
06:07 – Evan Lewis
14:43 – Congressperson Sheila Jackson Lee
30:14 – Dread Scott
10am: Family Members Address Reparations for Lynching
00:00 – Prof. Nicole Aljoe
02:20 – Montage: LYNCHED: Photos of the families joining us today
07:12 – Quanda Johnson
09:10 – Evan Lewis
15:37 – Sheila Moss
24:19 – Annie Whitlock
33:36 – Thomas Moore
46:42 – Evan Lewis
10:45am: Remarks from Scholars and Leaders
00:00 – Prof. Nicole Aljoe
01:10 – Dr. Angela Y. Davis
08:30 – Ta-Nehisi Coates
23:52 – Dr. Ron Daniels
40:35 – Dr. William “Sandy” Darity
11:30am: US Reparations Movements: Applying the Lessons
00:00 – Prof. Nicole Aljoe
01:33 – Prof. Ángel Nieves
03:15 – Nkechi Taifa
15:16 – Prof. Maxine Jones
26:40 – Joey Mogul
36:14 – Prof. Paul Watanabe
12:30pm: Closing remarks
00:00 – Dr. Margaret Burnham
05:30 – Montage: Reflected
09:20 – Evan Lewis
Afternoon session
Afterwards, a closed session was gathered to lay the foundation for the launch of a formal organization designed to advocate for reparations on behalf of individuals and communities harmed by historical lynchings.
Roundtable conveners:
- Adjoa Aiyetoro & Dale Perry
- Jennifer Bellamy & Evan Lewis
- Jordan Brewington & Tara Turner
- Jay Driskell & Josephine Bolling McCall
- Nan Woodruff & Quanda Johnson
- Kaylie Simon & Jimmie Carter