National Coalition of Blacks for Reparations in America explained

National Coalition of Blacks for Reparations in America
Purpose:Advocates for financial compensation for the descendants of former slaves in the United States
Type:Civil rights organization
Founded:[1]
Founders:Imari Obadele and Chokwe Lumumba
Leader Title:National Co-Chair
Leader Name:James RodgersIII [2] [3] [4] [5]
Location City:Washington, D.C. -->
Location Country:U.S.

The National Coalition of Blacks for Reparations in America (N'COBRA) is an organization that advocates for financial compensation for the descendants of former slaves in the United States.[6] [7] [8]

History

The National Coalition of Blacks for Reparations in America was founded September 26, 1987,[9] for the purpose of spreading information and supporting the long-term goal of gaining reparations for slavery in the United States.[10] Founders of N’COBRA were Imari Obadele[11] [12] and Chokwe Lumumba;[13] other founders included the National Conference of Black Lawyers, the New Afrikan Peoples Organization, and the Republic of New Afrika.

In 1994, N'COBRA hosted a national gathering of members in Detroit. One of the speakers was Queen Mother Moore,[14] a founder of the Republic of New Afrika.

Organizational structure

The work of N'COBRA is based on nine national commissions:

N'COBRA membership is broken down into three categories: individual members, national and local organizational chapters, and organizational affiliates. N’COBRA membership is seen in many different parts of the United States (such as Philadelphia)[15] and in parts of Africa, Europe, Central, and South America, and the Caribbean.

Primary leadership for the organization is handled by a national board of directors.

Positions

The stated mission of the National Coalition of Blacks for Reparations in America is:

Since at least 2017, N'COBRA has advocated for reparations compensation to be in the form of community rehabilitation and not payments to individual descendants of slavery.[16]

In 2022, Taiwo Kujichagulia-Seitu of N'COBRA described the organization's goals for "full repair":

Juneteenth

N'COBRA has recognized Juneteenth — commemorating the emancipation of enslaved African Americans — as a holiday since the early 1990s.[17]

H.R. 40

H.R. 40, entitled the Commission to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African-Americans Act, is a Congressional reparations study bill that has been introduced by Representatives John Conyers (D-MI) and Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX) to every Congress since 1989.

In 2001, N'COBRA came out in support H.R.40; in fact, the organization, working with chief legal consultant Adjoa Aiyetoro, was preparing a lawsuit against the federal government to demand reparations.[18]

2016 Movement for Black Lives policy platform

In August 2016, the Movement for Black Lives, a coalition that is tied to the Black Lives Matter movement, released a policy platform based around reparations.[19] The platform listed six demands, comprising 40 policy recommendations, and "seeks reparations for lasting harms caused to African-Americans of slavery and investment in education and jobs."[20] Reuters lauded the announcement of this platform as "the first time these Black-led organizations linked to the decentralized Black Lives Matter movement have banded together to write a comprehensive foundational policy platform."

Criticism

Critics of N'COBRA claim that the organization has done little to advance the cause of reparations in the U.S.[21] [22] Reparations scholar William A. Darity Jr., for instance, wrote, "The ... NCOBRA agenda will not result in a reparations plan that will provide direct payments to black American descendants of U.S. slavery."

Notable current and former members

See also

Further reading

References

Sources

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: The Long History of American Slavery Reparations: From the colonial era to today, the bitter legacy of bondage and racial oppression has sparked demands for compensation, with some successes and many broken promises. Manisha. Sinha. September 20, 2019. Wall Street Journal.
  2. News: Reparations for Black Americans seeing unprecedented national support, advocates say: As Juneteenth nears, civil rights groups call on president to sign executive order to begin reparations process. REBECCA. RIVAS. June 17, 2022. Missouri Independent.
  3. News: Jewish and Japanese American groups among growing multiracial effort calling for reparations for Black Americans. Maya. Brown. CNN. February 26, 2022.
  4. News: A price tag on trauma? College town weighs Black reparations. PHILIP. MARCELO. March 10, 2021. Associated Press.
  5. NEWS & POLITICS: SAN FRANCISCO BOARD APPROVES $5 MILLION REPARATION PAYMENTS FOR BLACK RESIDENTS. Rashad. Grove . March 16, 2023. Ebony.
  6. News: Blacks Press the Case for Reparations for Slavery. Lena. Williams. July 21, 1994. The New York Times.
  7. News: What to know about calls for reparations for Britain's legacy of slavery in the Caribbean. September 16, 2022. PBS. Kenichi. Serino. Justin. Stabley.
  8. Web site: How Chicago Became the First City to Make Reparations to Victims of Police Violence: The ordinance provides a meaningful model for creating reparations at the local level. SARAH. MACARAEG. YANA. KUNICHOFF. March 21, 2017. Yes!.
  9. Web site: What is N'COBRA?. National Coalition of Blacks for Reparations in America. ncobra.org. February 26, 2023.
  10. The Case for Reparations. Ta-Nehisi. Coates. Ta-Nehisi Coates. The Atlantic. June 2014. In the 20th century, the cause of reparations was taken up by a diverse cast that included the Confederate veteran Walter R. Vaughan, who believed that reparations would be a stimulus for the South; the black activist Callie House; black-nationalist leaders like “Queen Mother” Audley Moore; and the civil-rights activist James Forman. The movement coalesced in 1987 under an umbrella organization called the National Coalition of Blacks for Reparations in America (N'COBRA)..
  11. News: Imari Obadele, Who Fought for Reparations, Dies at 79. Douglas. Martin. February 5, 2010. The New York Times.
  12. Web site: In the News: Mayor Sarno, Representative Williams and Officials Celebrate 37th Annual Black American Heritage with Special Flag Raising Ceremony. February 1, 2023 . City of Springfield, Massachusetts. springfield-ma.gov.
  13. Book: Winbush, Raymond. Should America Pay?: Slavery and the Raging Debate on Reparations.. New York, NY. HarperCollins. 2010.
  14. News: Queen Mother Moore, 98, Harlem Rights Leader, Dies. Eric. Pace. May 7, 1997. The New York Times.
  15. Web site: Philadelphia is open to exploring a reparations task force, city says, after advocates push for action: The idea of a formal commission is backed by activists, Council members, and at least one mayoral candidate. Jordan. Levy. January 20, 2023. Billy Penn.
  16. News: Michelle Chen . March 7, 2007 . Bill to Study Slavery Reparations Still Facing Resistance. The NewStandard. March 11, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20070317105452/http://newstandardnews.net/content/index.cfm/items/4449. 17 March 2007. dead.
  17. News: National Reparations Awareness Day celebrated, but not well known. Gina. Castro. February 23, 2023. Evanston RoundTable.
  18. News: Calls for Slavery Restitution Getting Louder. Tamar. Lewin. June 4, 2001. The New York Times.
  19. News: Black Lives Matter Coalition Makes Demands as Campaign Heats Up. Yamiche. Alcindor. August 1, 2016. The New York Times.
  20. News: August 2, 2016. Slavery reparations sought in first Black Lives Matter agenda. Eric M.. Johnson. Reuters.
  21. Web site: Aug 1, 2019. Dereliction of Duty; The 30 year tenure of N'COBRA. Kofi. Changamire. Medium.
  22. Web site: Are NAARC And N'COBRA Blocking A Modern, Lineage-Based Reparations Claim?. Ann. Brown. May 3, 2022. The Moguldom Nation.
  23. Web site: How The City Of Evanston Is Paying Reparations: Robin Rue Simmons shares how Evanston, Illinois created a restorative housing fund that enabled 16 Black seniors to make home improvements or mortgage payments. September 14, 2022. Next City.

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