Over the last several months, Philanthropy Northwest has been attempting to deepen and expand the conversation around reparative action in philanthropy within our region. To do this, we sought to lean into learning from and about folks who are already engaged in the journey of repair through truth telling, moving money and building power.
To begin exploring histories and potential models of application, we led a four-part series called The Shift: Moving Philanthropy Towards Reparative Action. This program engaged funders throughout the region (and beyond!) to consider their role in reparative action as a path toward fulfilling their respective mission and community commitments. The following resources are a reflection of our collective learning and tools of action in our path toward repair.
Historical Learning
History Of Slavery and Institutional Racism By Region
This comprehensive map highlights the stark history of slavery and institutional racism in our region. Scroll down the webpage to see the dropdown for information on states in the Pacific Northwest region.
Ta-Nehisi Coates’ Full Opening Statement on Reparations at House Hearing
In this video, author Ta-Nehisi Coates discusses how the inequalities of slavery show up in our modern lives and why reparations should be considered today.
The Atlantic Slave Trade in Two Minutes
This interactive map illustrates the extraction of people from Africa during the Atlantic slave trade. Consultant Kaci Patterson used this map to support our collective learning about the volume and toll of extraction that Black people have experienced historically, and further illustrating the need for repair.
As you attempt to engage in reparative action and racial equity work, you may notice that you are having trouble navigating some of the challenges that arrive. This document articulates some of the distractions and unnecessary bureaucratic complexities used to limit or delay progress. During the final session of The Shift, J Mase encouraged participants to consider the ways various elements in this text might hinder or complicate their work and ability engage in reparative action.
Examples of Repair Efforts
The California Reparations Report
The state of California has been conducting research into both the case for reparations at the state level, as well as idealizing what it might look like to engage in repair to Black Californians.
Virginia Theological Seminary designated $1.7 million as a reparations endowment fund. In September 2019, VTS announced the creation of an endowment dedicated to the payment of reparations, and the intent to research, uncover and recognize Black people who labored on-campus during slavery, Reconstruction and segregation under Jim Crow laws.
Truth Racial Healing and Transformation with First Alaskans Institute
A critical aspect of reparative action is telling the truth about your institutions history and the origins of your wealth. Through their TRHT work First Alaskans has examined what it might mean to engage in this work while centering the voices of the historically marginalized. In this blog post they explore what this work has looked like and the ways that they have partnered with institutions to begin righting historical wrongs.
Take Action
But Is it Reparations? Worksheet
Created by author and activist J Mase III, this worksheet looks to support funders in their journey in navigating what is and is not reparative. One of the challenges of leaning into this work is identifying the differences between racial equity and reparative action. This tool is designed to create clarity for folks as they examine their intentions and processes through reparative frameworks.
Brown Folks and Reparations Worksheet
There is a role for everyone in the pursuit of reparative action. This worksheet (created by YaliniDream and shared by J Mase III) supports non-Black POC in exploring ways that they might participate in Black and Indigenous reparative action.
