C-LeB28
Moderator
By KRISTEN MACK
Copyright 2002 Houston Chronicle
Houston City Council voted today not to back a national bill exploring the possibility of reparations for slaves' descendants.
Today's 8-7 vote defeated a resolution by Mayor Lee Brown even though throngs of people, one with a painted face, others with American and African flags, filled council chambers at Tuesday's public session to express support for the measure.
A number of cities, including Dallas, Atlanta, Baltimore and New York City, have already passed or considered similar resolutions.
But some council members say it doesn't make sense to support something they ultimately have no say in.
"I wish it wasn't on the agenda. It's not healthy for the city government to get involved in national politics when it can become unconstructive," said Councilman Bert Keller.
The resolution supported a House bill that would establish a commission to examine slavery and recommend remedies, including the possibility of reparations.
"For politicians to start putting price tags on human error is dangerous," Keller said.
Councilwoman Ada Edwards said the resolution on the council agenda was appropriate, because the city is the first rung in the political process.
"People are scared of it," Edwards said. "The time is now to stop skirting the issue, but stand up to the table and say this happened and it was inhumane. We need to deal with it and move forward."
Brown said he believes a national debate and examination on slavery would be productive.
"African-Americans have a unique history and slavery and race have been a very contentious and divisive issue in our country," he said. "Reparations won't end the division."
Since 1989, U.S. Rep. John Conyers Jr., D-Mich., has offered a bill that would study slavery reparations.
Conyers encourages cities to pass resolutions supporting the bill, even though the momentum goes up and down.
Dallas passed its resolution supporting passage of the House resolution in 1999. But it also reads, "Nothing in this resolution shall be construed to place financial obligations or commitments on the City of Dallas."
No dollar amount is attached to Conyers' bill.
"Different people have different visions of what they think reparations should be. Some people want money, some education," said Conyers' spokeswoman Kriston Alford. "Conyers has never said what his vision is. There's not a general consensus."
Support for reparations -- in several forms -- has become increasingly popular and a march for reparations is set for Aug. 17 in Washington, D.C.
"It is obvious that a national debate on the subject of reparations is in order," said U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Houston, a co-sponsor of the House bill.
Activist Quannel X used a noose to illustrate his support at Tuesday's session.
"If you forgot, remember this," he said as he held up the rope. "We don't want individual checks, we want to build an infrastructure in this nation."
Michael Bell, a member of the Tarrant County Local Organizing Committee, said the history of Africans in America has been brutal.
"We are still experiencing the aftershocks and backlash of a system hell-bent on subjugating and denigrating our race. This country owes us for the ongoing emotional assault on our people," Bell said.
Copyright 2002 Houston Chronicle
Houston City Council voted today not to back a national bill exploring the possibility of reparations for slaves' descendants.
Today's 8-7 vote defeated a resolution by Mayor Lee Brown even though throngs of people, one with a painted face, others with American and African flags, filled council chambers at Tuesday's public session to express support for the measure.
A number of cities, including Dallas, Atlanta, Baltimore and New York City, have already passed or considered similar resolutions.
But some council members say it doesn't make sense to support something they ultimately have no say in.
"I wish it wasn't on the agenda. It's not healthy for the city government to get involved in national politics when it can become unconstructive," said Councilman Bert Keller.
The resolution supported a House bill that would establish a commission to examine slavery and recommend remedies, including the possibility of reparations.
"For politicians to start putting price tags on human error is dangerous," Keller said.
Councilwoman Ada Edwards said the resolution on the council agenda was appropriate, because the city is the first rung in the political process.
"People are scared of it," Edwards said. "The time is now to stop skirting the issue, but stand up to the table and say this happened and it was inhumane. We need to deal with it and move forward."
Brown said he believes a national debate and examination on slavery would be productive.
"African-Americans have a unique history and slavery and race have been a very contentious and divisive issue in our country," he said. "Reparations won't end the division."
Since 1989, U.S. Rep. John Conyers Jr., D-Mich., has offered a bill that would study slavery reparations.
Conyers encourages cities to pass resolutions supporting the bill, even though the momentum goes up and down.
Dallas passed its resolution supporting passage of the House resolution in 1999. But it also reads, "Nothing in this resolution shall be construed to place financial obligations or commitments on the City of Dallas."
No dollar amount is attached to Conyers' bill.
"Different people have different visions of what they think reparations should be. Some people want money, some education," said Conyers' spokeswoman Kriston Alford. "Conyers has never said what his vision is. There's not a general consensus."
Support for reparations -- in several forms -- has become increasingly popular and a march for reparations is set for Aug. 17 in Washington, D.C.
"It is obvious that a national debate on the subject of reparations is in order," said U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Houston, a co-sponsor of the House bill.
Activist Quannel X used a noose to illustrate his support at Tuesday's session.
"If you forgot, remember this," he said as he held up the rope. "We don't want individual checks, we want to build an infrastructure in this nation."
Michael Bell, a member of the Tarrant County Local Organizing Committee, said the history of Africans in America has been brutal.
"We are still experiencing the aftershocks and backlash of a system hell-bent on subjugating and denigrating our race. This country owes us for the ongoing emotional assault on our people," Bell said.