*Political leaders often advocate for funding studies on reparations for slavery as a gesture toward racial justice, yet they frequently stop short of drafting or endorsing concrete policies that would implement actual reparations payments.
Maryland’s first Black governor, Wes Moore, has delivered a striking example. On May 21, he vetoed Senate Bill 587, a measure that would have launched a two-year commission to craft recommendations for compensating African Americans harmed by slavery and its legacy. In a letter to Senate President Bill Ferguson, Moore called the decision “difficult,” but said additional analysis would only delay tangible progress.
“Now is the time for continued action that delivers results for the people we serve,” Gov. Moore said, CBS News reports.
What the bill proposed
The legislation envisioned a broad menu of possible remedies: formal apologies, direct cash payments, debt relief, property-tax rebates, expanded social services, and home-buying assistance, among others. Had Moore signed it, the commission would have convened in 2025 and presented final recommendations by 2027.
Backed by the Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland, the largest such caucus in the country, the measure sailed through both chambers this spring. Baltimore County Delegate Aletheia McCaskill hailed it as “a healing moment for many folks.”
Yet the debate in Annapolis turned contentious. Opponents warned of an eventual “reparations tax,” while supporters countered that funding could come from banks or public-university endowments.
Why Moore said no
Moore argued that Maryland has spent three decades examining slavery’s enduring impact through various panels and task forces. The governor insisted that it is time to narrow the racial wealth gap by boosting homeownership, nurturing Black entrepreneurs, and tackling disparities in food security and education, work he said his administration is already pursuing “with increased focus and intentionality.”
The governor wrote, “These are the issues I fought for even before I was sworn into office, and they are the priorities our administration will continue to address, with increased focus and intentionality.”
Reaction from lawmakers
The Legislative Black Caucus expressed sharp disappointment in a statement that read: “At a time when the White House and Congress are actively targeting Black communities, dismantling diversity initiatives, and using harmful coded language, Governor Moore had a chance to show the country and the world that here in Maryland, we boldly and courageously recognize our painful history and the urgent need to address it. Instead, the State’s first Black governor chose to block this historic legislation that would have moved the state toward directly repairing the harm of enslavement.”
Because the bill cleared the General Assembly with a veto-proof margin, lawmakers could override Moore when they reconvene. The caucus argues that executive programs alone cannot “substitute meaningful, sustained, and comprehensive efforts” that only a dedicated commission can provide.
MORE NEWS ON EURWEB.COM: ‘Justice on Trial: Reloaded’ Streams May 31, Blending History and Reparations on Stage | VIDEO
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