Timely discussion: The real question on racial healing
The day after the nation honored the life and legacy of Dr. King, U.S. Rep. Barbara Lee organized a discussion, “Racial Healing for Justice: Reparations and Transformation, as a part of the sixth annual “National Day of Racial Healing.” Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (DTexas), Dr. Ron Daniels, and Dr. Gail Christopher joined the East Bay Democrat in the discussion moderated by Dr. Marcus Hunter, the originator of the #BlackLivesMatter movement, and former inaugural chair of UCLA AfricanAmerican studies department.
The discussion addressed racial healing, racial justice, and strategic steps that can be taken to motivate the Biden/ Harris administration to pass H.R. 40 and H.Con.Res. 19.
When asked about racial healing, Lee said she instead asks, how do we get to racial healing? “Healing doesn’t take place,” Lee continued, “because someone says, I’m sorry, this is a new day, or forget the past.” Racial healing requires bringing the country together in a truth-telling moment, making the case for reparations, repairing the damage, and dismantling systems and structures that led to a disproportionate number of disparities experienced largely by descendants of enslaved Africans in the United States on every single front.
Lee explained America must also come to grips with how centuries of institutional slavery and systemic racism impacted Black families, Black women and men, girls, and boys, and how it manifests itself today. She mentioned the importance of passing H.Con. Res.19, legislation that urges the establishment of a United States Commission on Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation in Congress.
“No healing right now,” Lee concluded.
Daniels, president of the Institute of the Black World 21st century, which convenes the National African-American Reparations Commission, agreed with Lee. He mentioned Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech, in which Dr. King reminded America that it had given Black people a bad check marked insufficient funds. Daniels said we must address why insufficient funds remain for Black people while others have benefited.
In acknowledging the story of America, we must include the unspeakable horror and the continued denial of the inhumanity of people of color, particularly those of African descent, that lasted for centuries. Christopher, senior and vice president for Truth Racial Healing and Transformation at the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, and executive director of the National Collaborative for Health Equity in America, also pointed out that we must have a critical mass of people to stand up for racial justice and gain enough political power so that we can put into place sustainable justice policies.
Jackson Lee, who took charge of the H.R. 40, a bill to study and develop proposals for reparations for foundational Black Americans, agreed with her colleagues. She noted the Civil Liberties Act of 1988, which gave reparations to surviving Japanese Americans for their incarceration during World War II. The H.R. 40 legislation introduced in 1989 by the late Rep. John Conyers hasn’t passed even though he introduced the bill in Congress every year. Yet, Jackson Lee said, these same senators attend MLK Day celebrations every year.
All panelists agreed that the Biden/Harris administration is in a historic moment to pass both legislations so that the country can move forward on an equal footing. They are pleased that the administration has made racial equity a pillar of their agenda. However, Lee said, the administration must get to the core issues with regards to the systemic reasons for inequities rather than “tinkering around the edges.”
Absolutely, more is needed from the Biden/Harris administration and, us as their constituents, to ensure that both legislations pass, and to Black Americans’ satisfaction. I will continue this topic in next week’s column.