The absence of reparatory justice in social work neglects the profession’s commitment to promote social justice and social change with and on behalf of vulnerable and historically oppressed peoples.

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Reparations | Social Work Encyclopedia

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Advancing Reparatory Justice in Social Work: A Call to Action

Framework of Harms for Reparation

01

Perpetuated Historical Atrocities

Capture and Human Trafficking and Trade, Enslavement, Genocide, Racial Terrorism, Apartheid, Climate Change

02

Efforts to Destroy Culture and Self-Determination

Principles, Language, Rituals, Communal Bonds, Concept of God, Destruction/Pathologizing Communities

03

Discrimination in Education and Provision of Inferior Education

Separate and Unequal Education System

04

Stolen Capital and Economic Loss

Political Disfranchisement, Separate and Unequal Housing, Racialized Wealth Gap

05

Medical Experimentation, Discrimination in Health, and Provision of Inferior Health Care

Forced Sterilization and Racialized Health Gap

06

Biased Judicial and Legal System and Discrimination in Criminal Punishment System

Convict Leasing, Racial Profiling, Mass Incarceration, Political Prisoners

Take action now.

Use this sample letter to urge your legislators to support H.R.40/S.40.

The issue here is not whether or not we can, or will, win reparations.
The issue rather is whether we will fight for reparations, because we have decided for ourselves that they are our due.

Randall Robinson, The Debt: What America Owes to Blacks

Frequently Asked Questions

What are reparations?

Reparations are moral and material atonement for human rights violations and crimes committed against people and include non-monetary and monetary redress. Learn more here.

Reparation is an internationally recognized process to pursue acknowledgment, apology, repair, and reconciliation for historic wrongdoings and crimes against humanity committed by governments, corporations, and individuals.

Learn more here.

Have government ever paid reparations?

The British and U.S. governments paid reparations to slave owners and U.S. government paid reparations to slave owners. Learn more here.

Does the U.S. government currently provide reparations?

Yes, all the time! Learn more here.