Staying Strong in the Fight for Reparations in a Time of Political Turmoil: My Message to the Reparations Movement
by Nkechi Taifa
My fellow organizers, sisters and brothers in the struggle, these are undeniably challenging times. The political climate we face today is fraught with threats to the very principles of justice and equity we hold dear. From the dismantling of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives to the relentless attacks on immigrants seeking refuge, we are witnessing an administration that tramples on civil and human rights with impunity. Yet, as daunting as these times may seem, I am here to remind you: we have been here before, and we have prevailed before.
The fight for reparations for Black folk is not just a campaign for financial redress — it is a moral imperative, a demand for truth-telling, repair, and the restoration of dignity and self-determination to our people. It is a movement rooted in centuries of resilience, vision, and courage. The attacks on our humanity — whether they come through policies, rhetoric, or systemic neglect — are designed to make us feel powerless, but we are anything but!
Our ancestors faced far worse. They were enslaved, dehumanized, and stripped of their identities. Yet even in the bleakest of times, they dreamed of freedom. They passed down to us not just their trauma but also their unwavering hope and the determination to keep moving forward, no matter the obstacles. This legacy is our birthright. It is why we cannot and will not despair, no matter who sits in the White House.
The current administration’s attempts to erase progress are a desperate response to our rising power. Let that sink in. They fear us because we are organized, because we are unapologetic, and because we are unrelenting in our demands for justice. They see our growing movement, our ability to connect the dots between reparations, the wealth gap, criminal justice reform, education, housing, and health care. They know that we are not a single-issue movement but a transformative force for liberation.
Now is the time to double down. The calls for reparations are louder than ever, with cities, states, and institutions across the nation beginning to acknowledge their roles in perpetuating harm. This momentum is not accidental; it is the result of your work — our work. It is the petitions, the rallies, the town halls, and the one-on-one conversations we’ve had with neighbors and colleagues. It is the painstaking labor of love we have poured into keeping this issue alive when others told us it was impossible.
Yes, the opposition is fierce. They are dismantling DEI programs because they know that equity is the foundation of justice. They are vilifying immigrants because they fear the unity that comes from a truly inclusive society. And they are trying to suppress our voices because they know the power of collective action. But remember this: the strength of our movement is not determined by their actions. It is determined by our resolve.
We must not allow despair to take root. Despair is what they want. Hope, however, is revolutionary. Optimism in the face of adversity is an act of defiance. When we gather, organize, strategize, and dream, we are building the world our ancestors envisioned and the future our children deserve.
We have a responsibility to lead with courage and vision. Let us remind ourselves that movements for justice have never relied on favorable conditions to succeed. When Frederick Douglass demanded abolition, when Ida B. Wells exposed lynching, when Fannie Lou Hamer organized for voting rights, they did so under circumstances designed to crush them. Yet they persisted, and they won.
Our fight for reparations is no different. We are not just asking for a check; we are demanding acknowledgment of harm, redress for injustice, and a future where the systems that oppressed us no longer exist. Reparations is about repair and transformation — healing the wounds of the past while building a foundation for the future.
So let us stay strong. Let us lean on each other and draw strength from the generations that came before us. Let us remember that no matter how bleak the headlines may appear, the arc of the moral universe only bends toward justice when we, the people, pull it with all our might.
How We Gonna Make Reparations Rise? AGITATE, EDUCATE, ORGANIZE! Keep agitating. Keep educating. Keep organizing. Together, we are unstoppable. And together, we will win!
Nkechi Taifa is an attorney, author, activist, and the Executive Director of the Reparation Education Project. She is the author of Reparations on Fire: How and Why It’s Spreading Across America.
