April Policy Corner

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Starting in June 2024, BlackRoots Alliance launched Reinvest to Repair (R2R). R2R was a research project to create meaningful dialogue among Black Chicagoans about reparations, centering community voices in the pursuit of reparative justice. Over six months, we conducted over 200 interviews, hosted workshops on the South and West sides, and conducted statewide polling of Black Illinois residents.

This work provided powerful insight into the concerns, frustrations, and hopes of Black Chicagoans, shaping the recommendations we ultimately developed. The overwhelming majority of participants envisioned a future rooted in communalism. Many participants also wrestled with bootstrap narratives—the idea that "we are our own worst enemy." However, deeper discussions revealed an understanding that systemic oppression, not personal failings, was the root of economic disparities, and these conversations actively challenged and worked to dismantle those outdated beliefs. There was also an apparent demand for material change. Symbolic gestures and performative politics were widely rejected. 

After analyzing the interviews, our team, with collaborators, Black Researchers Collective and Liberation in a Generation, developed policy recommendations for Chicago focused on structural change.

  • Comprehensive Reparations: Reparations must extend beyond one-time financial compensation and include investments in community infrastructure, education, homeownership, and business development. 
  • Systemic Change & Policy Reform: Reparations should not only address financial inequalities, but also demand the implementation of anti-racist policies in policing, education, housing, and employment.
  • Investment in People and Neighborhoods: Mental health and community wellness programs should be prioritized to help Black Chicagoans heal from the trauma caused by systemic racism and violence. 
  • Collaboration & Accountability: Establish strong partnerships between local government, community organizations, and Black leadership to implement reparations initiatives effectively. 

Reinvest to Repair was not just about gathering information—it was about building momentum for real change. The insights from these interviews will inform our ongoing work and shape policy proposals that reflect the actual needs and desires of Black Chicagoans! 

Click Here to Read the Whole Reinvest2Repair Report: 


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