New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani said he would not rule out cash reparations for descendants of enslaved people if a city commission recommends them.
In a statement submitted to the commission, Mamdani acknowledged that New York City actively participated in the slave trade and perpetuated its legacy through racist institutions, policies, and laws, and called for the city to reconcile and repair that legacy.
The commission’s findings are due next summer. Mamdani reiterated his earlier position, noting that he cannot give a definitive answer before the report is released but stresses the importance of confronting the city’s historical complicity.
He added that acknowledging the true nature of the city’s past is critical, and he looks forward to the commission’s recommendations.
Historical context shows that the United States was among the first nations to take steps toward ending slavery. Pennsylvania ended slavery in 1780, and Benjamin Franklin led the Pennsylvania Abolition Society. By 1804, all states north of Maryland had phased out slavery, and the Northwest Territory was barred from the institution in 1787. The Constitution prohibited the importation of slaves after 1808, and the Civil War ultimately abolished slavery nationwide.
Evanston, Illinois, became the first U.S. city to enact a reparations program, distributing more than $7 million in $25,000 payments to eligible residents. The program, funded by a local marijuana tax, faced legal challenges from non-black residents who sued to block the payments, claiming racial discrimination.
The U.S. Justice Department intervened, arguing that distributing funds based on race violates the Equal Protection Clause of the Constitution. Officials cited the requirement that government treat citizens as individuals rather than members of a racial class.
If the city moves forward with reparations, it is likely to face a constitutional challenge that could reach the Supreme Court. A ruling in line with the Constitution would potentially invalidate the reparations program under the 14th Amendment’s equal protection guarantees.
