Letter: Amherst’s Reparations Story Shared At National Conference

I’m checking in from Washington D.C. on April 2, where I’m attending the 2022 Reparations Conference, alongside 23 reparations leaders throughout the US. (There is also an online conference that over 250 people registered for) 

The conference is hosted by the Thurgood Marshall Civil Rights Center (TMCRC) at Howard University School of Law and is a collaboration with First Repair (Robin Rue Simmons’ organization), African American Redress Network, and the International Center for Transitional Justice (ICTJ). The goal of this year’s conference is to understand the roles of legislators, academia, and attorneys in supporting descendent communities. 

Yesterday we gathered at 9 a.m. and began with song and a libation ceremony facilitated by a very wise elder named Karen Wilson-Ama’Echefu. It was an invitation to recognize that spirit had brought us together in the space and an opportunity to recognize our ancestors by calling out their names and pouring water into a planted pot. 

Following the libation ceremony we were welcomed by several reparations leaders including Dr. Ron Daniels, Robin Rue Simmons, Kamm Howard, and Dr. Michael Nabors, who offered powerful words to set the table for our work. 

The first session of the conference was a presentation by Evanston’s Robin Rue Simmons, the architect of the Country’s first municipal reparations initiative. She shared a lot of useful information, particularly with respect to engaging the community. As one of three cities (Providence, San Francisco, Amherst) represented in the space with a reparations commission/committee in place, I was given the opportunity to share Amherst’s story and our progress to date. I received positive feedback from the in-person attendees and folks watching online and felt honored and proud to be representing the African Heritage Reparation Assembly (AHRA) and the Amherst community. 

In the afternoon we got together with folks in our region to discuss experiences and strategy, and think about ways to strengthen our coalitions. There is a plan to host an east coast reparations conference that I hope to help organize in the coming months. 

Our final session of the day was called “Decolonizing the Academy” and explored how institutes of Higher Education should play a role in racial reckoning and reparations. I learned some very useful information in that session that I look forward to sharing with the AHRA and broader community. 

We finished the day at the National Museum of African American History and Culture, where we were offered a private tour. It was a very moving and intense experience and further deepened my commitment to this work and to seeing that residents of African heritage in Amherst get the long overdue reparations to which they are entitled. 

This morning we had three options for our first session – movement, silence, and BIG FEELINGS. By some grace I ended up in big feelings and it was a meaningful and cathartic experience. It brought to surface how challenging this work is and reinforced to me that it will require a lot of community support to get see this process through. Thanks to all of those who have supported and engaged in the process so far and to those working (and fighting) for racial justice in the community and beyond. 

The AHRA welcomes the public to our meetings and invites them to explore our resources page at:(https://www.amherstma.gov/3641/Resources). 

On Monday April 4,  the Donahue Institute will be presenting the Black/African American census at our regular AHRA meeting, This is very important part of our work, and we would love to have members of the public attend. To join the Zoom meeting from  3:00-5:00 p.m. on Monday, April 4, Click here.

Michele Miller is an Amherst Town Councilor representing District 1. She is Chair of Amherst’s African Heritage Reparations Assembly.