Two members of Detroit’s reparations task force, Co-Chair Lauren Hood and Maurice Weeks, have resigned at the task forces most recent meeting on Saturday, highlighting significant challenges within the group. Hood, expressing her frustration and hopes for the future, stated to BridgeDetroit, “It doesn’t feel like [healing] and I don’t know how to make it like that. What I was hoping that my leaving, our leaving, can put in motion is some support that would make this as successful as it could be.”
Hood outlined the situation regarding the appointment of replacements, stating to BridgeDetroit, “It’s up to the council to decide whether replacements will be appointed, but is not required to.” Saturday’s meeting occurred at the Northwest Activities Center had approximately 60 participants, both in-person and online.
Co-Chair Keith Williams, upon learning of his colleagues’ plans to resign, emphasized the overarching mission of the task force in a statement to BridgeDetroit: “To me, no one person is bigger than the mission of reparation because the mission should be about bringing relief to the thousands of Black people who suffer from racist practices of the past. This is not the time to blame anyone because this is sacred work and we must finish the job that the citizens of Detroit voted for.”
Hood and Weeks had previously considered resigning in August but remained following encouragement from the City Council and community members. Weeks, reflecting on the task force’s function, stated to BridgeDetroit, “The people of the city really deserve a reparations task force that is run smoothly and professionally. Unfortunately, at this time, I don’t have the capacity to serve on the task force in this form. I remain passionate about reparations for Black Detroiters and will continue to work with advocates across the city, the council, and members of the task force to repair the harms done by centuries of brutal systemic anti-Black racism.”
The independent nature of the task force, as BridgeDetroit reports, is both a strength and a challenge, particularly in establishing procedures for studying reparations programs. Weeks pointed out potential areas for improvement: “There are certainly things that council can do to set this task force up for more success going forward. I have communicated some of those things, many of them have come up in public comment, and I welcome more conversations on that topic.”
Council President Mary Sheffield, as reported by BridgeDetroit, mentioned in October that the task force’s transition from monthly to quarterly public meetings and the decision for a three-month “pause” were to facilitate hiring an administrative assistant. This assistant would help set up meetings, conduct research, and hire consultants, relieving the council and its office from these tasks. Despite attracting 30 candidates for the administrative role, with six deemed qualified and interviewed, no one was hired.
The task force has also faced difficulties in hosting public meetings. The August meeting was only accessible online through a member’s Zoom account, requiring a passcode sent out mid-meeting. Similarly, a link to Saturday’s virtual meeting was non-functional, requiring attendees to manually input a meeting ID on Zoom, a step not adequately communicated to residents.
Despite these challenges, BridgeDetroit reports that the task force has made progress in its first seven months, forming subcommittees and partnering with the University of Michigan Poverty Solutions to identify past harms against Black Detroiters. A report from U-M is expected in spring 2024 to guide efforts to address these harms. Reparations commissions in other parts of the country have similarly started their processes with such reports.
The task force, which was established to address historic discrimination against Black residents in Detroit, now faces three vacancies following these resignations and the passing of Rev. Dr. JoAnn Watson, a key member and advocate for reparations. Co-Chair Keith Williams, reflecting on the importance of the task force’s mission, said to BridgeDetroit, “To me, no one person is bigger than the mission of reparation because the mission should be about bringing relief to the thousands of Black people who suffer from racist practices of the past.”
Weeks, explaining his decision to step down, conveyed to BridgeDetroit, “The people of the city really deserve a reparations task force that is run smoothly and professionally. Unfortunately, at this time, I don’t have the capacity to serve on the task force in this form.”
Council President Mary Sheffield, who played a key role in forming the task force, emphasized its independence and community-led nature. Sheffield stated to BridgeDetroit, “City Council has done our part by appointing members in a timely fashion and by ensuring funding was secured and appropriated to help facilitate the Taskforce’s work.”
Furthermore, the task force is also examining the impact of the I-375 Reconnecting Communities Project. Detroit Planning Department Director Antoine Bryant, addressing the potential for restorative programs, told BridgeDetroit that the city plans to create a framework to guide future land use and consider restorative programs for impacted Black neighborhoods.
Saturday’s meeting featured presentations critiquing the I-375 Reconnecting Communities Project, including comments from urban planner Paul Jones III and Hilanius Phillips, the city’s first Black city planner. Jones highlighted the project’s lack of commitment to equity and restoration of neighborhoods, stating to BridgeDetroit, “We’re not reconnecting anything because the city was so prolific in destroying Black neighborhoods. Black Detroiters on the national scale already navigate some of the most dangerous roads. The most dangerous roads are state roads, under MDOT’s jurisdiction.” He also addressed the concern that large downtown land parcels would likely benefit wealthy developers rather than Black Detroiters, underscoring the need to address the “historic exclusion of Black Detroiters downtown.”
The task force, as reported by BridgeDetroit, is continuing to seek public input and feedback at reparationsdetroit2023@gmail.com. This initiative, backed by 80 percent of voters, is part of a broader effort to address the long-standing impacts of racial discrimination in Detroit.
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