State Rep. Donavan McKinney, D-Detroit and members of the Michigan Legislative Black Caucus want to study the documented harms caused to Black Michiganders through public policy decisions.
Members of the legislative caucus held a press conference on Thursday to speak about the introduction of a three bill package, the Reparative Justice Package.
Bill sponsors said the legislation would create a voluntary option within state data collection systems for individuals who identify as descendants of people enslaved in the United States, commonly referred to as American Freedmen. One bill would establish the Office of Freedmen Affairs, and another would create the American Freedmen Reparations Commission.
McKinney asked those watching to “Put emotions aside, put the culture wars aside,” to address documented harms caused by public policy.
“I am honored to be working on this legislation because every community deserves to know that its history matters and that its experiences are recognized,” McKinney said. “These bills take important steps toward understanding Black history and building a stronger future for Michigan. Good public policy should be informed by facts. Especially, because before we can address longstanding inequities, we have a responsibility to fully examine the historical record and understand how the policies of the past continue to shape opportunities today.”
Black Michiganders face documented disparities in maternal health outcomes, environmental exposure, and economic opportunity-disparities whose causes can be traced through decades of discriminatory public policy decisions, advocates said.
“Our history is not distant. Its effects are still with us today. If we are serious about addressing systemic challenges, we must do so based on facts, evidence, and sound data,” said state Rep. Jason Hoskins, D-Southfield. “We often hear the phrase, ‘You can’t fix what you don’t measure.’ This legislation puts that principle into practice by allowing us to move from assumptions to evidence, and from anecdotes to facts.”
Michigan currently places descendants of enslaved Americans, African immigrants, and Caribbean immigrants into a single demographic category. Although these communities share important experiences, they have distinct histories and may face different outcomes.
“This package is built on the belief that effective policymaking requires engagement, accountability, and reliable information. Understanding our past and documenting our shared experiences strengthens our communities and ensures that future generations have access to that history,” said state Rep. Brenda Carter, D-Pontiac. “Michigan has established offices and commissions to engage with and advocate for many communities across our state. My bill recognizes that descendants of individuals emancipated from slavery in the United States also deserve a dedicated office to coordinate resources, conduct research, preserve history, and advise policymakers on issues affecting their communities.”
Ernest Russell is the president of the Freedmen Agenda League of Michigan, a group that advocates for reparations for Black Americans. He said his dream is a Michigan that fully embraces both justice and equality.
“As we pursue this legislative process, we hope Michigan will commit itself to both principles. By confronting history honestly and working together toward meaningful solutions, we can strengthen our communities and move closer to the promise of a more perfect union,” Russel said.
The city of Detroit went through its own reparations study over the last two years, which resulted in recommendations for housing and economic development programs that address historical discrimination against the Black community in Detroit.
Those recommendations have yet to be put into a plan for legislation for city council to vote on. Members spent months debating how to address harms caused, such as the destruction of Hastings Street due to the construction of the I-375 freeway.
