41001 - Confronting Histories of Racial Harm in Chicago and Illinois

Description

Nationally, there are increasing conversations about reparations for long histories of racial harm. In the last decade, there have been multiple efforts across Chicago and Illinois to undertake reparations including work to document the history and extent of harm, to address and repair harm done, and to make payments to harmed communities and individuals. These efforts have ranged widely including organizing in Chicago on behalf of the Burge Torture Survivors, in Evanston to address long histories of discrimination in housing, Arts/activism related efforts to address the history and present harm of land sale contracts in the Englewood neighborhood in Chicago, and the State of Illinois’ legislative creation of new African Descendents Citizens Reparations Committee. This panel will examine what we can learn from these efforts – some initiated by government entities and some initiated by community organizers, and organizations making demands on behalf of communities that have been harmed.

Sub Unit

• Regional Spotlight Session

Presider

• Amanda Evelyn Lewis, University of Illinois-Chicago

Panelists

• Terrion Williamson, University of Illinois Chicago

• Robin Rue Simmons, Evanston Reparations Program and First Repair

• Joey Mogul, People's Law Office

• Amber Hendley, Historic Chicago Bungalow Association

Session Organizers

• Amanda Evelyn Lewis, University of Illinois-Chicago

• Maria Krysan, University of Illinois-Chicago