Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, during the city's Juneteenth celebrations, revealed the "Wealth Our Way" (W.O.W.) grant program, igniting a storm of debate and prompting demands for federal oversight. The announcement took place on June 16, 2025, in Daley Plaza, where Johnson also raised the Juneteenth flag and signed Executive Order 2024-1, establishing a Reparations Task Force. This task force is charged with formulating a definition for reparations and exploring past and current city policies that may have disadvantaged Black residents.
“These policies are not accidental,” Johnson stated to the audience, asserting the importance of recognizing historical wrongs and striving for "complete liberation." The grant program, amounting to $4.11 million, aims to fund community projects in Black neighborhoods, with individual grants reaching up to $500,000. The initiative has been positioned as a means to repair and restore equity, emphasizing collective ownership in communities historically marginalized.
However, the mayor's comments took a sharp political turn as he criticized the Donald Trump administration, comparing its actions to the Confederacy, which has raised eyebrows and intensified the scrutiny of the program. The city is already under DOJ investigation for alleged race-based hiring practices, and this new initiative has added fuel to the fire.
Nick Sortor, a conservative commentator, and journalist, labeled the program as "straight up RACISM," sharing a video of Johnson's speech and urging the DOJ to act. Filmmaker Robby Starbuck and Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon have also questioned the legality of the initiative, citing concerns over racial discrimination in grant distribution.
In defense of the program, Johnson emphasized the significance of acknowledging the enduring consequences of slavery and the importance of investing in Black communities. He pointed out the necessity for the Black community in Chicago to remember their history as part of working towards a just future.
The Reparations Task Force is expected to review a broad spectrum of public policies dating back to the slavery era, with the aim of informing potential future reparations initiatives. Mayor Johnson reiterated his commitment to honoring a campaign promise to advocate for reparations.
As the debate continues, the implications of this program for Chicago's Black residents and the broader conversation on reparations in America remain to be seen, with the program set to distribute funds through the end of 2026.
