Providence, RI to Launch a Race-Neutral Reparations Program

12/5/2022

Providence, RI has announced a recently-approved $10 million city reparations program.

The intent of the program is to offer reparations, or financial amends, to Black and Indigenous communities for the city’s role in discriminatory practices and systemic racism over the past several decades. Often reparations programs are created for residents whose family members were enslaved in the area.

Instead of direct payments, the city will fund programs that assist in narrowing the wealth and equity gap in the area. Programs include workforce training, job placement, cultural organizations, and Black-owned media outlets.

However, the eligibility criteria for program funding is race-neutral and can include Black and Indigenous residents, as well as Providence residents of any race facing poverty. According to income regulations, about half of the city’s white residents would be elegible to apply for funding.

Only about 12% of Providence residence identify as Black, and activists are concerned that, because of the race-neutral language, the program will fail to best serve the communities it was created to fund.

What do you think? Does this make sense? Should reparations programs be race-neutral? Is this justice? How could this $10 million better serve Black and Indigenous communities?

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