Biden Senior Adviser: We Will 'Start Acting Now' on Reparations for Black Americans
Cedric Richmond says 'we don’t want to wait on a study'
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Joe Biden’s senior adviser said the administration would soon commence acting immediately regarding reparations for black Americans.
How such reparations might be implemented is being debated by Congress on the prospect of forming a commission to study the issue.
But Cedric Richmond told Axios on HBO during an interview that they do not want to wait, the outlet reported Monday.
“We don’t want to wait on a study," Richmond said.
"We’re going to start acting now,” he said.
“We have to start breaking down systemic racism and barriers that have held people of color back and especially African-Americans," he added.
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"We have to do stuff now," Richmond said.
“If you start talking about free college tuition to [historically black colleges and universities] and you start talking about free community college in Title I and all of those things, I think that you are well on your way.”
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said last month that Biden would support a study on whether descendants of slavery in America should receive reparations.
“He would certainly support a study of reparations," Psaki said.
"He understands that we don’t need a study to take action right now on systemic racism, so he wants to take actions in his own government in the meantime,” she added.
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But Rep. Burgess Owens voiced opposition to reparations during his opening remarks on February 17 as a member of a House Judiciary subcommittee on civil rights and civil liberties.
“Reparations is not the way to right our country’s wrongs,” he explained.
“It is impractical and a non-starter for the United States government to pay reparations."
"It is also unfair and heartless to give black Americans the hope that this is a reality.”
NFL legend Herschel Walker blasted Democrats’ proposal to establish the commission and told lawmakers:
"We use black power to create white guilt.”
“My approach is biblical.
"How can I ask my Heavenly Father to forgive me if I can’t forgive my brother?” he asked.
