Place-Based Initiative for Reparations
In September of 1957, 9 Black students of Little Rock, Arkansas tested the recent landmark case, Brown v. Board of Education which would allow them to attend school with white students. Institutions have long failed Black people and this Supreme Court ruling demanded the same testing of its so-called guaranteed measure for equality. Surrounded by the National Guard and crowds who were fueled by the standards of Jim Crow, they attempted to walk into their classrooms.
With every stride towards the all-white, Central High School, they symbolically demanded their reparations. In this case, atonement for discrimination was embodied in their presence, their rights, and their education. More than 60 years removed from this court case and more than 100 miles Northwest, Black communities are still working towards reparations, but this time, with a foundation of support.
As a Black-led philanthropic organization, The Witness Foundation (TWF) has the capacity to give leverage and ensure that justice, in the hands of Black Christian leaders, will not fail. Our signature fellowship program will identify, train and fund five leaders from across the country who identify as Black and Christian. In addition to training, each fellow will receive $50,000 each year for the two-year program to bolster their work towards racial justice in a variety of fields.
While support to manifest TWF’s goal comes from various groups and donors, one regional standout comes from Northwest Arkansas, locally known as NWA. Reparations Now NWA, initiated by Lowell and Rebecca Taylor, has committed to raise $100,000 for TWF so that one member of our inaugural fellowship cohort will be a resident of the Northwest Arkansas area.
Pictured: Rebecca, Lowell and their two children.
“…white Christians need to change our perspective: we need to understand that reconciliation is important but insufficient to get us from here to equality. We must widen our view of racism”
--Lowell Taylor
Though the TWF Fellowship is exclusively for Black Christians, it will take all believers in Christ to understand and take action against institutional and individualized racism that inhibits growth and equity for Black leaders. In this effort, the Taylor’s have created a series of conversations and educational materials that in essence, create a customized ‘Case for Reparations’, in his own words, an homage to Ta-Nehisi Coates.
This bold partnership for our inaugural cohort marches one step further in creating Partner Churches who commit to donating $25,000 dollars annually and receive on-going resources to support racial justice. This will mirror TWF’s pilot Church Partnership program and future work in collaborating with churches, seminaries, foundations and other institutions to pursue true reparations, financial security for the historically disadvantaged.
“God’s people have the opportunity to declare a Jubilee, repenting and repairing the sins and failures of our ancestors by investing in the next generation of black Christian leaders.”
--Michael Rhodes,
Director of Community Transformation at Union University
More than 60 years passed from what the Little Rock Nine went through, we take up their baton to pursue reparations for Black leaders who demand their presence be known. TWF was born out of the acknowledgement and declaration that we are in a modern era of the Civil Rights movement. We know that when Black leaders of faith go to measure and test the justice of institutions, they will often be failed— but in this season, they will persevere. In this season, we’re grateful to the Taylor’s for bearing witness to the injustice and creating a form of reparations to support our foundation. We hope that in this season of giving, you too, will bear witness with us.
Donate to The Witness Foundation and help meet our $500,000 campaign goal.
Donate to Reparations Now NWA to support a 2021 fellow from Northwest Arkansas.
If you are interested in a place-based partnership with The Witness Foundation, email Jon(at)thewitnessfoundation.co.