The Daily A City’s Step Toward Reparations
Jul 12, 2021
Join investigative reporter Megan Twohey and Alderwoman Robin Rue Simmons as they dive into Evanston's groundbreaking reparations program for Black residents. They discuss the initiative's origins and its political context, revealing the challenges of racial inequality and housing segregation that shaped this historic decision. Personal stories highlight the community's journey toward reparative justice. The conversation also explores how this model could inspire other cities across the nation, navigating the complexities of reparations towards meaningful change.
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Evanston Roots
- Megan Twohey grew up in Evanston, a diverse suburb north of Chicago.
- Twohey and Robin Rue Simmons, a key figure in Evanston's reparations initiative, were high school classmates.
Return to Evanston
- After high school, Robin Rue Simmons returned to Evanston, raising two children there.
- She struggled with gentrification in her childhood neighborhood, the Fifth Ward, making homeownership difficult.
Evanston's History of Discrimination
- Evanston's history reveals a pattern of discrimination against its Black community, particularly in housing.
- This discrimination included segregation, demolishing Black homes, and denying Black veterans housing opportunities.