REPARATIONS IN KC
Co-Hosted by American Public Square and
Kansas City PBS
June 7, 2023 | University Academy
KANSAS CITY IS ON THE CLOCK...
In early 2023, the Kansas City Council sanctioned the establishment of a new commission aimed at exploring reparations for Black residents affected by slavery. Tasked with the responsibility of examining the city's historical involvement in the enslavement and segregation of Black individuals, the panel was given a 12-month timeframe to develop recommendations on if and how to address these injustices.
This initiative has raised significant questions regarding a community's obligations towards descendants of enslaved people and the methodology for measuring the enduring impacts of slavery. It has also invited conversation about who is responsible for determining how to rectify wrongs and who is responsible for implementing such actions. Further, there have been concerns about whether reparations efforts may exacerbate racial tensions within Kansas City.
To address these challenging questions, American Public Square partnered with Kansas City PBS to host a June program on the topic of reparations in Kansas City.
Panelists included:
- Former Evanston, Illinois, Councilwoman, Robin Rue Simmons, who led that town’s effort to pass legislation to approve reparations
- Councilwoman Melissa Robinson from Kansas City, Missouri, Third District, who championed the ordinance to form the Kansas City commission which will recommend a plan on reparations
- Mickey Dean, a member of the KC Reparations Coalition
- Author, Jack Cashill, who’s book, “Untenable, The True Story of White Ethnic Flight from America’s Cities,” was published in July 2023
The moderated discussion was once again led by Nick Haines of Kansas City PBS. Claire Bishop of APS served as the program's Roving Reporter.
From a national perspective, the question of reparations for African Americans had become an increasingly polarizing and contentious issue in 2023, with proponents arguing for acknowledgment and redress of historical injustices and opponents raising concerns about feasibility, fairness, and unintended consequences.
Locally, the topic clearly sparked interest as nearly 600 people registered for the event. Throughout the evening, the APS Civility Tools were put to the test more than once, including a moment of reminder to participants about the tools and how they should be used.
While panelist Robin Rue Simmons drew a considerable amount of feedback given her firsthand experience developing a reparations strategy in her hometown of Evanston, Illinois, it was perhaps the conservative panelists that drew the most comments from the community at the conclusion of the event.
While some praised the effort to incorporate varied perspectives, others expressed disappointment about APS' choice of conservative panelists and their impact on the discussion's dynamics. This feedback motivated APS Chairman and CEO, Allan Katz, to share a special message with the APS community, reiterating APS' commitment, not to comfort, but to critical thinking.
The June program "Reparations in KC" broadcast as a Kansas City Week in Review special on Friday, June 16, 2023; it was subsequently available for ongoing streaming through KC PBS' digital channels.
