The Philadelphia Reparations Coalition for American Freedmen is guided by a simple but constitutionally profound philosophy:
Reparations is Reconstruction, and Reconstruction is Reparations.
The 39th Congress designed Reconstruction as a constitutional project to eliminate slavery “root and branch,” restore the civil estate of American Freedmen, and secure their economic, political, and civic independence.
Reparations is not separate from that project — it is the completion of it.
Reconstruction was never finished. Because Reconstruction was never finished, reparations were never delivered. Because reparations were never delivered, the disabilities of slavery continue. And because those disabilities continue, slavery itself continues in law and fact.
Reparations is Reconstruction, and Reconstruction is Reparations.
The 39th Congress designed Reconstruction as a constitutional project to eliminate slavery “root and branch,” restore the civil estate of American Freedmen, and secure their economic, political, and civic independence.
Reparations is not separate from that project — it is the completion of it.
Reconstruction was never finished. Because Reconstruction was never finished, reparations were never delivered. Because reparations were never delivered, the disabilities of slavery continue. And because those disabilities continue, slavery itself continues in law and fact.