EVANSTON, Ill. (AP) — Evanston, Illinois, has become the first U.S. city to make reparations available to its Black residents for past discrimination and the lingering effects of slavery.
The Chicago suburb’s City Council voted 8-1 late Monday to distribute $400,000 to eligible Black households.
Each qualifying household would receive $25,000 for home repairs or down payments on property.
The program is being funded through donations and a 3% tax on the sale of recreational marijuana.
Qualifying residents must either have lived in or been a direct descendant of a Black person who lived in Evanston between 1919 to 1969 and who suffered discrimination in housing because of city ordinances, policies or practices.
Learn more about the city's reparations here.
