So Far, The NYS Community Commission on Reparations Remedies Seem a Failure
by Betty Jean Grant
Betty Jean Grant
On December 19, 2023, a Bill, S1163-A/A 7691, was signed by Governor Kathy Hochul to talk about the issue of Reparations, with regards to past and current descendants of African Americans’ enslavement, who currently living in New York State. This specific Law gives New York State the authority to create a statewide commission to meet, discuss and gather information about how feasible Reparations will be, especially after the many generations after the abolition of slavery. Even the correct date when slavery was finally abolished in NYS is almost as controversial as the conversation on Reparations.
During Slavery, the enslavement of new Africans in New York State was subject to the NYS Gradual Abolition Act of 1799. After the year 1799, any child born to an enslaved mother, was born free, but that freedom would not be effective until after a certain age was reached—25 years for a female and 28 years for a male. From the date of their birth to the age of their ‘emancipation,’ they would be delegated as indentured servants. The act of Slavery in New York State officially ended on July 5, 1827, thereby making NYS one of the last northern states to officially abolish slavery. Even after the abolition of owning humans was eliminated, certain rural towns and villages around the State did not drop the practice of owning other human beings until around 1830.
The New York State Community Commission on Reparations Remedies has an impressive name, but the scope of what it can do is limited by what the Governor and/or the state legislature have determined is its mission is and what it hopes to accomplish. There are 9 members of the Commission, and they come from areas all across NYS. One of appointee is Buffalo’s resident, Timothy Houges, NYS Commissioner of Civil Service. Mr. Hogues was appointed by Gov. Hochul.
Based on Human Rights Laws, as outlined by the United Nations Principles, the five core tenets of Reparations are:
. Restitution
Compensation
Rehabilitation
Satisfaction
Guarantees of Non Repetition
The goal of the NYSCCRR is to identify potential harm caused by the institution of Slavery; seek ways to address those harms and put mechanisms in place to mend the damage that was done by introducing individual, community or collective Afro-centric solutions and compensation. The NYSCCRR has been empaneled to convene meetings and public hearings until January 2027. And, although they have held monthly meetings, in person or virtually, since 2024, only one meeting / public hearing, convened at Elim Church in November 2024, has been held in Buffalo, home to the 2nd largest population of African Americans in New York State!
According to the schedule this writer saw listed on NYSCCRR’s website, the rest of the monthly meetings are being held in Yonkers or in Rochester, NY. It seems that no additional meetings will be held in Buffalo. This is a shame because the governor or the state legislature’s conveners are missing an opportunity to have the opinions and concerns of the citizens of Buffalo weigh in on whether the talk about Reparations is even needed. However, according to current data, 77% of African Americans, nationwide, believes that Reparations, in one form or another, is due while roughly 18 % of white citizens said nothing is owed to the descendants of millions of enslaved Africans who toiled under an inhumane system for hundreds of years.
The NYS Senate and Assembly sponsors of the ‘Reparations Bill’ did a great service by putting it before their respective chambers and Gov. Kathy Hochul did right by her black constituents by signing it. However, the Governor can only empanel the commissioners to hold meetings to seek community engagement and input. It will be up to our WNY State Delegation that includes Senators April Baskin and Jeremy Zellner & Assemblypersons Crystal Peoples-Stokes, Pat Burke, and Jon Rivera to take up this cause and finally address the issue, Reparations.
President Abraham Lincoln started the process by awarding over 4,000 families, from S. Carolina to Florida, some portion of that ‘40 acres and a mule’ concept but was stopped from completing this noble mission by an assassin’s bullet in the Ford Theater in Washington, DC, in 1865.
The next meeting /public hearing for the NYSCCRR will be held at The Tay House Lodge, 85 Hillside Lodge, Rochester, N.Y. 14610, Friday, April 10, 2026, 3-5 P.M.