*Almost a year after it was established, Detroit’s reparations task force is in chaos after two members resigned and another passed away over the summer.
One thing about political leaders (mainly Democrats), when it comes to the topic of reparations, they historically like to explore the conversion on its surface but never take meaningful, lasting action. So it should be no surprise that former members of Detroit’s reparations task force claim there’s been a “lack of progress” and “no broad strategic vision,” Daily Mail reports.
“I think, collectively, that group of people has different ideas about what reparations is fundamentally and we didn’t get to a place where we had a broad strategic vision,” Co-leader Lauren Hood told the Detroit News.
Hood leads the task force along with Michigan Democratic Black Caucus chairman Keith Williams.
A $350,000 budget was allocated to the group to develop recommendations that “address historical discrimination against the Black community in Detroit,” according to the City Council website, Daily Mail reports.
The members were tasked with researching “the harm done to Detroiters through slavery through the systemic racism practices of the past and present’ before engaging the community ‘to figure out what it wants as relates to reparations,” said City Council leader Mary Sheffield.
According to the Daily Mail, the group (which now consists of 10 people) has reportedly descended into chaos since their first meeting in April.
“We had some concerns at the last meeting that we had and nothing changed. So it’s just like, how long do you stay the course when you don’t see anything changing?” Hood shared.
Despite “getting things done,” Hood told the Detroit News that the group “desperately need a strategy to engage the public.”
Hood said she hopes her resignation, as well as that of southwest city rep Maurice Weeks, along with the death of former councilor Rev. Dr JoAnn Watson in July, motivate the group to develop an action plan.
“Perhaps this is what needed to happen,” Hood said. “That we needed to make space for other people to be able to show up in their full capacity.”
READ MORE: Surely, You’re Not Surprised – Voters in California Oppose Cash Reparations for Slavery
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