Rep. Ayanna Pressley will reintroduce H.R. 40, a bill to study and propose reparations for slavery, despite facing significant challenges from a Republican-controlled Congress and ongoing federal opposition. The bill, introduced for decades without passage, would create a commission to address the enduring impact of slavery and subsequent racial discrimination.
In an exclusive interview, Pressley described the current climate as “a painful inflection point” marked by rising white supremacy and “a weaponized Supreme Court.” She emphasized the urgency of her work: “We have a hostile administration working actively to roll back decades of progress when it comes to our civil rights.”
President Donald Trump’s recent executive order banning diversity policies in federal agencies has intensified the struggle. Pressley acknowledged these obstacles but remained committed: “I’m working actively to blunt the assaults from a hostile administration… because throughout history, when other folks catch a cold, Black folks, figuratively, catch pneumonia.”
H.R. 40, originally introduced by Rep. John Conyers in 1989, was later led by Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, who passed away last summer. Pressley is officially taking over the effort, a role Lee’s daughter encouraged her to assume. The content of the bill remains unchanged and will require Pressley to rally legislative support.
Reparations advocates trace the origins of the concept to post-Civil War promises, such as the “40 acres and a mule” plan that was never fulfilled. Pressley asserted, “Our government has a moral and legal obligation to provide reparations for the enslavement of Africans and its lasting harm on Black communities.”
The racial wealth gap remains a focal point of the reparations debate. According to the Pew Research Center, white households have a median wealth of $250,400, compared to just $27,100 for Black households. H.R. 40 aims to address such disparities.
Despite political hurdles, Pressley remains hopeful. “I love doing the work of consensus building,” she said. “I think I will breathe a new iteration of life into this movement.” National organizer Dreisen Heath praised Pressley’s approach, stating, “She actively marries intersectional issues and is unapologetic about it.”
“This fight remains our North Star,” said civil rights attorney Nkechi Taifa, stressing the importance of the bill for healing and reconciliation.
Link: NBC News
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