Dear comrades, supporters, and fighters for repair around the world,

Thank you again for your hope, your encouraging words, your time, and your energy in raising the song of reparations from a mere melody to the multiracial, intergenerational, interfaith chorus we hear from California to New Jersey, and from Washington to New York. 

In 2023, our Democrats Abroad Reparations Task Force achieved many victories. Not a single one of those successes would have been possible without the combined efforts of Americans around the world united in the truth that a better world is not only possible, but also achievable in our lifetime.

Through fighting for reparative justice legislation at the state and local levels, we have begun laying the groundwork for a national reparative justice plan to reverse the legacy of racism, one which includes enslavement, Jim Crow laws, and ongoing anti-Black policies, as well as their resultant compound economic, cultural, and psychological damage.

We once again demonstrated this year, just as we did last year, that reparations is a radical act of love, knowledge, and justice. Due to the fierce urgency of now, we had to deftly build on last year's momentum in order to score high-powered wins this year.

In 2023, the Democrats Abroad Reparations Task Force:

• Organized an online discussion event with premier reparations scholar Dr. William “Sandy” Darity and former Ohio state Senator Nina Turner entitled “2023: Reparations and the Black Vote”;
• Held a Black History Month online educational event with Lotte Lieb Dula and Briayna Cuffie of Reparations4Slavery entitled “The Racial Wealth Gap: Understanding the Economic Basis for Repair”;
• Helped create a call to action for Black voters concerning the federal Office of Management and Budget's attempt to modify the descriptor for Black Americans on the latest census, which could have imperiled the Black vote in 2024;
• Convened a virtual interfaith panel event entitled “The Power of Us: Interfaith Action for Reparations Now”;
• Joined nearly 300 organizations in endorsing Congresswoman Cori Bush’s Reparations NOW resolution; 
• Drafted and passed a resolution at the Democrats Abroad Annual Global Meeting calling on President Joe Biden to create a federal reparations commission via executive order by Juneteenth 2023;
• Testified before the D.C. Council in support of the Reparations Foundation Fund and Task Force Establishment Act at the invitation of Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie;
• Held a reading circle on Dr. William “Sandy" Darity and Kirsten A. Mullen's seminal text From Here to Equality; 
• Conducted a talk on reparations with the German-American Institute of Nuernberg; 
• Coordinated with the offices of New York State Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages and Senator James Sanders Jr. to advance A7691/S1163A, legislation to create a New York State community commission on reparations remedies;
• Led a coalition of more than 100 organizations and individuals in delivering a letter to New York Governor Kathy Hochul in support of a state reparations commission; and
• Attended the signing of the New York State reparations commission bill at the invitation of Governor Kathy Hochul’s office.

Antar Keith and Kaitlyn Kennedy attend the signing of the New York State reparations commission bill at the invitation of Governor Kathy Hochul’s office.

 

Antar Keith and Kaitlyn Kennedy connect with Congressman Jamaal Bowman during the signing of the New York State reparations commission bill.

 

Antar Keith and Kaitlyn Kennedy meet with New York State Senator Jabari Brisport during the signing of the reparations commission bill.

Press conference in front of Governor Kathy Hochul's Manhattan office demanding her signature on the New York reparations commission bill. The December 12th Movement’s Roger Wareham, Esq., reads excerpts from the Democrats Abroad Reparations Task Force-led letter in support of a New York reparations commission.

 

Kaitlyn Kennedy testifies during a D.C. Council hearing on the Reparations Foundation Fund and Task Force Establishment Act

 

Daniel Stein leads the Reparations Task Force Reading Circle on Dr. William A. Darity Jr. and A. Kirsten Mullen's From Here to Equality, which was recommended for global-level status by Democrats Abroad executive leadership. 

 

Antar Keith tours the Buffalo Soldiers National Museum in Houston, Texas.

As we look back on a successful 2023, we are also looking forward to building on our achievements in the coming year. 

The Democrats Abroad Reparations Task Force’s 2024 goals include:

• Ensuring that delivering on reparations is a central demand in the 2024 election year;
• Advocating for the application of reparative justice policies and provisions to Black Americans abroad;
• Collaborating with stateside partners to develop model reparations legislation;
• Campaigning for implementation of the California Reparations Task Force recommendations;
• Building a strong grassroots coalition to support and inform the New York State reparations commission at it begins its work;
• Supporting the efforts of the New Jersey Reparations Council and encouraging Black Americans abroad to testify in upcoming hearings;
• Continuing our coordination with the coalition in support of a D.C. reparations task force;
• Connecting with Tennessee state Representative Justin Jones as he plans to introduce reparations legislation; 
• Elevating the experiences of Black Americans abroad, along with the need for repair, through social media and communications campaigns;
• Expanding connections with members of the press and digital media; and
• Deepening our relationships with reparative and racial justice organizations and advocates across the United States.

 

If you would like to support the work of the Democrats Abroad Reparations Task Force, please consider donating here. Contributions of any size are greatly appreciated.

In strength and solidarity, 

 

Antar Rashiq Keith

Reparations Task Force Chair

Democrats Abroad

 

Email: [email protected]