Reparations are a direct and necessary step to balance the scales, unlock opportunity, and ensure a stronger economy for all of us.

Today, across all measures of well-being –economic, mental and physical– Black Americans consistently rank far behind other communities. This reflects the long-lasting impact of generations of exclusion from economic opportunity, with consequences that affect us all.

In Chicago alone, the median household wealth for a Black family is $0, compared to $210,000 for the median white household.

Getting serious about closing the widening wealth and opportunity gap in our country means investing in true economic repair that acknowledges generations of unpaid labor and lost opportunities, and ensures Black Americans receive the restitution they deserve.

Direct cash payments is the most direct solution to closing the wealth and opportunity gap.

As the representative for the 7th District, I would introduce and back legislation that would authorize the cash payment of reparations to all Black households that are the descendants of enslaved people. These payments would amount to roughly $200,000: the difference between the median Black household wealth and the median White household wealth nationally.

Reparations would mean roughly $60 BILLION in federal dollars being poured into Chicago's communities.