The Fulton County Reparations Task Force is making headway on their research into the possibility of redress in Fulton County (Matthew Pearson/WABE).
The Fulton County Reparations Task Force is making headway on whether restitution is possible for Black descendants of enslaved people. The group put out an update on their progress last month.
In 2021, the task force was officially established with $250,000 in funding from the Fulton Board of Commissioners for the group to conduct two studies on the possibility of reparations for Black descendants of people who were enslaved or lived under Jim Crow laws in the county.
The task force refers to reparations as a way to repair the harm done to a specific, oppressed minority, but repair can differ between people and communities.
Around late 2023, the task force began working on the studies. The first of the two, the “Harm Report” focuses on the legacy and trauma of slavery in the country.
The group held several meetings and listening sessions for public input on the initiative. But last fall, they were paused as research moved further along.
“The decision to suspend meetings … was made to direct full attention to the research and complete it as soon as possible,” the 2025 update said.
Recently, the Reparations Task Force reported that they are actively drafting the Harm Report, which is 75% complete.
“The work of the Harm Report is mentally, emotionally, and spiritually demanding,” the task force said in the update.
Books about the history of Fulton County at the Central Library in downtown Atlanta. (Matthew Pearson/WABE)
The group plans to finish the remainder of the first study and move forward on making progress on their second study, the “Repair Report.”
The Repair Report will examine the practicality of issuing reparations in Fulton County. The task force will hold meetings once both studies are ready for the public.
“We are immensely grateful for the support from Fulton County as we take on this momentous task,” the task force said. “We ask for your continued support and solidarity as we complete the work ahead.”
As of now, an official release for the research hasn’t been announced.
Once confirmed, the Reparations Task Force plans to present its findings and recommendations to the Fulton County Board of Commissioners. Additionally, the group will resume meetings for the public to learn about their discoveries.
