“Today, we are continuing our efforts to right the wrongs of the past by acknowledging the painful legacy of slavery in New York,” Hochul said in a joint statement announcing the effort. “We have a moral obligation to reckon with all parts of our shared history as New Yorkers, and this commission marks a critical step forward in these efforts.” The legislation (S.1163-A/A.7691) will form a nine-member commission with expertise in black studies, the criminal legal system, human rights, civil rights, reparations organizations, and other relevant fields. “Contrary to what many believe,” the bill’s text reads, “slavery was not just a Southern institution. Prior to the American Revolution, there were more enslaved Africans in New York City than in any other city except Charleston, South Carolina.” The legislation continues, “During this period, enslaved Africans accounted for 20 percent of the population of New York and approximately 40 percent of colonial New York's households owned enslaved Africans. These enslaved Africans were an integral part of the population which settled and developed what we now know as the State of New York.” Lawmakers say that post-civil war, conditions for black Americans in the Empire State remained poor, with newly emancipated slaves and their families still facing public and private discrimination. Officials say that even today, New York is one of the most segregated places in the U.S. for education. Additionally, the bill states that “housing has also been a persistent and constant issue in New York since the Civil war,” with landlords engaging in discriminatory practices. “The consequences of slavery in New York State is not an echo of the past, but can still be observed in daily life. Systemic racism has cemented a legacy of generational poverty, and we still see today instances of voter suppression, housing discrimination, biased policing, food apartheid, and disproportionate rates of incarceration,” the legislation says. “In acknowledging New York's history, we confront the high cost of racial injustices,” Assemblymember Michaelle C. Solages said in the joint statement. “By Governor Hochul signing into effect the Reparations & Remedies Commission, New York State will empower communities to actively participate in shaping the essential path forward toward unity and healing.”New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has signed legislation to create a new commission to study the issue of reparations.
