Our Black Founders set out to demonstrate reparative models that cultivate intergenerational wealth for Black people who descend from enslaved Americans. They identified homeownership, education, and entrepreneurship as primary methods of generating long-term intergenerational wealth in America and have chosen homeownership as our first initiative. We partner with Multiplier, a nationally recognized incubator, and with local organizations in each target city to select participants, manage contributions, and disburse reparative transfers. Learn more about Reparative Transfers
Homeownership comprises the largest portion of Americans’ wealth, yet has been consistently less accessible to Black citizens. Since the American Dream of homeownership is a pathway to generational wealth, as well as to a greater sense of stability, place and belonging, one model we are demonstrating and evaluating is direct Reparative Wealth Transfers to Black Americans for Homeownership.
RepGen raises funds from individuals, corporations, and foundations as acts of repair for slavery and structural racism to support its Homeownership Reparative Transfer (HORT) Program. HORT provides one-time $25,000 Reparative Transfers and homebuyer mentorship to Black American descendants of enslaved Americans purchasing a primary residence in Metro Detroit. Free Restorative Genealogy Consultation is provided to applicants in order to document descendancy for program eligibility. Learn more
Detroit’s complicated racial history illustrates the array of issues underlying racial injustice and disparity in America. As a city that saw a large number Black migrants during the great migration, Detroit is the home to direct descendants of enslaved Americans and those targeted by Jim Crow laws in the South. Structurally racist policies and practices in Detroit, like redlining and race-based housing covenants, served to segregate and economically oppress Black residents. The effects persist today: Detroit’s population, job, and housing markets mirror those in other industrial Great Migration cities like Cleveland, Philadelphia, Chicago, and Baltimore, making it a good location to demonstrate the impact and scalability of Reparation Generation’s initiatives. Learn more
Education is the key to social mobility and wealth generation, but for too many Black Americans, pursuing a higher education means taking on significant student loan debt. With disparities in hiring and pay still negatively impacting Black graduates, the risks of taking on student loans can outweigh the benefits of a college degree, ultimately widening the racial wealth gap. Reparation Generation’s future education initiative will provide financial support to Black students furthering their education in selected cities.
Starting a business can generate wealth in the present day and create an asset to pass on to the next generation. Unfortunately, Black entrepreneurs face hurdles ranging from systemic bias to a lack of initial capital and difficulty obtaining credit, among other challenges. Reparation Generation’s future entrepreneurship initiative will focus on providing financial assistance to Black Americans starting or growing businesses in selected cities.
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