According to USA Today, the Asheville City Council in North Carolina has voted to provide reparations to Black residents and their descendants. This extraordinary move comes during a time where the world is experiencing a global health pandemic, extremely high racial tensions and social injustices.

The Asheville City Council has apologized for North Carolina’s historic role in slavery, discrimination, and denial of basic liberties to Black residents. In a 7-0 vote that happened last night, July 14th, the unanimous decision might not immediately mandate direct payments but it will make investments in areas where Black residents face disparities.

In an effort to increase generational wealth, the resolution calls on the city of North Carolina to create the Community Reparations Commission which will work to make concrete recommendations for programs and resources to be used.

The resolution states:

The resulting budgetary and programmatic priorities may include but not be limited to increasing minority home ownership and access to other affordable housing, increasing minority business ownership and career opportunities, strategies to grow equity and generational wealth, closing the gaps in health care, education, employment and pay, neighborhood safety and fairness within criminal justice

This is definitely a historic moment for North Carolina and it will be interesting and highly anticipated to see if any other cities and possible states will follow suit.