Officials in Tennessee’s largest county voted this week to study reparations for descendants of enslaved people. A majority of officials in Shelby County say reparations are needed to address crime and our culture, including Shelby County Commissioner vice chair Miska Clay-Bibbs:
“We’re trying to say it’s clear something needs to happen different in Shelby County. My people are dying on the daily.”
County Commissioner Brandon Morrison is against reparations saying the money should be spent elsewhere.
“This resolution is unAmerican in a lot of ways and I think the money would be much better spent with workforce initiatives and finding ways to elevate.”
The resolution in Shelby County, which includes Memphis, will allocate $5 million to study and find actionable items addressing five key areas: Increased access to affordable housing and home ownership, healthcare parity, criminal justice reform, enhanced career opportunities, and financial literacy and generational wealth.
Click play to listen to the report from AURN White House Correspondent Ebony McMorris. For more news, follow @E_N_McMorris & @aurnonline.
