Reparations Commission Sends Recommendation to City, Council

The Community Reparations Commission has passed its second unanimous recommendation, in which it asks the City of Asheville and Buncombe County to formally commit to stop harming Black people in this region.

The Commission has asked for an official audit of where the city and county are out of compliance with existing laws that are supposed to protect Black people and eliminate racial injustice.

Part of the recommendation reads: “As the Reparations Commission formulates recommendations that will address injuries that have resulted in disparate outcomes in Education, Health & Wellness, Housing, Economic Development, and Justice, it is strongly recommended that the City and County cease harms that continue to injure and, in turn, intensify disparities.

“It is also recommended that assurances be given that effective measures are taken that end ongoing and current harms due to intentional and unintentional policies, programs, practices, and procedures. Processes that produce disparities as well as racially discriminate outcomes in Education, Health Care, Housing, Economic Development, and Justice must cease.

“An official audit must be completed by the City and County of where Asheville and Buncombe County are in compliance and out of compliance with federal and state laws, regulatory bodies, Codes of Conduct, Court Orders, and Consent Decrees.”

RJC in support

Noting the recommendation, the Racial Justice Coalition of Asheville (www.rjcavl.org), elaborated, “Meaningful reparations are built on truth and awareness of past and current harms. We are reminded of Malcolm X’s quote: ‘If you stick a knife in my back nine inches and pull it out six inches, there’s no progress. If you pull it all the way out, that’s not progress. The progress is healing the wound that the blow made. They won’t even admit the knife is there.’”

The RJC continues that such an audit is documentation of the “wound(s) that the blow(s) made (and make)” in our local communities, and is therefore a necessary element to healing.

The RJC joined the Community Reparations Commission in calling on City Council and the County Commission to authorize the audit and commit to assessing and then addressing the harms they are perpetuating.

The City and County haven’t yet posted instructions for making a public comment at their upcoming meetings. Visit www.rjcavl.org for updates.