Reparations Advocates Insist on Direct Cash Payments for Descendants of Slaves

Reparations advocates are urging the federal government to provide direct cash payments to Black Americans who are direct descendants of enslaved people, asserting that such compensation is central to the movement. They caution that broadening the scope of eligibility risks diluting the cause, particularly in the face of conservative opposition and resistance from the Trump administration.

Rev. Phyllis Coachman, a supporter of the U.S. Freedmen Project, emphasized the necessity of cash payments. "Cash payments — that’s just a little solution to it, but it’s a big solution because without cash payments, there’s no reparations," she told Fox News Digital. Coachman also highlighted the enduring impact of historical injustices beyond the end of slavery in 1865, citing the collapse of Reconstruction, Jim Crow laws, legal segregation, disenfranchisement, racial terror, destruction of Black property, housing discrimination, redlining, discriminatory lending, barriers to wealth building, the war on drugs, and mass incarceration as subsequent harms.

The U.S. Freedmen Project, which identifies as representing "foundational Black Americans," seeks to educate the public on the distinction between descendants of U.S. slaves and those who immigrated to the country voluntarily. According to the group's website, it aims to continue the work of the 19th-century Freedmen’s Bureau and Freedmen’s Savings and Trust Company. Supporters of this organization argue that broader reparations bills could infringe upon constitutional principles and advocate for eligibility criteria based strictly on lineage.

This debate arises as several state and local governments explore reparations initiatives. Evanston, Illinois, was among the first U.S. cities to offer direct remedies, providing up to $25,000 in homeownership grants and cash payments to eligible Black residents to address historical housing discrimination.

Annette Wilcox, a reparations advocate, countered the characterization of direct monetary payouts as "handouts." She pointed to past government disbursements to various groups, including reparations for 9/11 victims and programs following economic crashes, noting that a significant portion of these funds historically benefited White individuals. "The government has a responsibility for what it did to the citizens — the Black people who were enslaved in this country — and it needs to own up to it just like it owned up to what it did to the Native Americans, the Japanese and many other groups that it has given reparations to," Wilcox stated.

A public hearing held by the New York State Community Commission on Reparations Remedies on Long Island saw residents express similar concerns about broadening reparations. They warned that including recent immigrants or other marginalized groups could co-opt the movement. The New York commission was established following legislation signed by Gov. Kathy Hochul in December 2023, creating a panel to examine the legacy of slavery in the state and evaluate potential remedies.

During the Long Island hearing, Aubrey Muhammad, a supporter of the U.S. Freedmen movement, called for a specific payout of $800,000 per eligible individual. "We need $800,000 for each foundational Black American. That's simple," Muhammad told Fox News Digital, suggesting this amount in New York could cover the cost of living, purchase a home, establish a small business, or alleviate financial distress.

Devine Prince, president of the U.S. Freedmen Project, acknowledged that such figures relate to broader efforts to address the national wealth gap but maintained that direct compensation is essential. "If you count yourself as a true American, then there should be no pushback and no rebuttals for direct monetary compensation for the harm that was done," Prince said. "That needs to be repaired through direct monetary compensation to American freedmen."