Descendants of enslaved people deserve reparations. Demand Congress commission a reparations study now!

U.S. Congress

Over the course of the Transatlantic slave trade, 12.5 million enslaved Africans were forcibly transfered to colonies in the Caribbean and North and South America. Of those 12.5 million, about 10 million -- more than a quarter of whom were children -- survived the voyage only to be forced to work under horrendous conditions

Our country’s economic prosperity was built off the forced labor of millions of enslaved people, who were subject to regular beatings, sexual assault, and family separation.

More than 150 years later, our country has yet to reconcile this grave crime against humanity. Further, descendants of enslaved people still have not received a proper formal apology or reparations for the arduous labor our ancestors were forced into, and are affected by racially discriminatory law enforcement practices that have their roots in unconscionable slave codes.

Fortunately, Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX-18), with the support and leadership of Black-led organizations and their allies, has re-introduced legislation HR 40, which would establish a study on how reparations could be distributed to the descendants of enslaved people.

With a companion bill introduced in the Senate by Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), and support from several other presidential candidates, it’s time we pass this legislation, build popular support for the study, and do right by descendants of enslaved people and their ancestors.

Sign the petition: Demand your U.S. lawmakers commission a reparations study now!

Participating Organizations:
Black Alliance for Just Immigration
CREDO Action
Daily Kos
Race Forward
Vote Reparations
Sponsored by
Additional Sponsors

To: U.S. Congress
From: [Your Name]

Our country’s economic prosperity was built off the forced labor of millions of enslaved people who were subject to regular beatings, sexual assault, and family separation. More than 150 years later, descendants of enslaved people have not received any form of reparations to acknowledge and repair the harm of the Transatlantic slave trade. I, your constituent, urge you to pass HR 40 which would establish a study on how reparations could be distributed to the descendants of enslaved people. The time to reconcile our violent history is now. Thank you.