While Maryland prides itself on its rich history, equity-centered policies and unprecedented Black leadership in our state, the deep scars of racial injustice remain embedded in our state’s foundation. Centuries of oppression, from slavery to segregation to modern racial disparities in wealth, education and health, continue to disadvantage Black Marylanders. Disturbingly, there has been a clear retreat from addressing racial injustice at the federal level. If Washington won’t act, Maryland must. It is time for our state to take a meaningful step toward justice by creating a commission to study reparations.

House Bill 1422 and Senate Bill 587 are bold and necessary pieces of legislation that will establish the Maryland Reparations Commission and serve as a vital first step in identifying and addressing the harms inflicted upon Black communities. This commission would gather historical evidence, examine present-day disparities and provide a data-driven framework to acknowledge these harms, recommend policies and develop solutions to repair the damage done. Without a comprehensive understanding of these injustices, our state cannot move toward true equity.

The need for reparations is not a radical notion; it is a moral imperative. The wealth of Maryland — like much of the United States — was built, in part, on the forced labor of enslaved Africans. Following the abolition of slavery, policies such as Jim Crow laws, redlining and discriminatory lending practices kept Black Marylanders from achieving economic mobility. Even today, Black families in our state face significant gaps in homeownership, income and access to quality health care. A commission would allow us to quantify these harms and propose tangible solutions that address the overarching societal impact that lingers to this day.

Maryland is not alone in pursuing this path. In 2020, California established a first-of-its-kind reparations task force to examine the state’s history of racial injustice and recommend policy solutions. Cities in Illinois and North Carolina have followed suit, recognizing that while the federal government debates the issue, local action is both necessary and possible. A state commission would allow Maryland to craft solutions tailored to its unique history and demographics

Critics of reparations argue that today’s taxpayers should not be held responsible for historical injustices.

However, the reality is that the consequences of slavery and segregation did not end with their legal abolition. The racial wealth gap, unequal educational opportunities and disparities in health care access are not relics of the past — they are ongoing crises. Just as the government has previously provided reparations to Japanese Americans interned during World War II and to survivors of the Holocaust, so too must we address the harms inflicted upon Black Marylanders.

Passage of this legislation is especially critical considering all that is transpiring in Washington. As the Trump administration aggressively dismantles diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, Maryland has an opportunity — and an obligation — to chart a different course and lead, demonstrating that equity is not a partisan issue but a moral imperative. A reparations study commission is a bold step forward, ensuring that progress toward racial justice continues, regardless of who occupies the White House.

We, as members of the Legislative Black Caucus, are working alongside our colleagues to get the bill across the finish line. As a powerful and influential body within the General Assembly, the caucus has actively pushed for policies addressing racial equity and historical injustices, recognizing the long-term economic and social disparities faced by Black Marylanders. Our leadership has galvanized support from lawmakers, advocacy groups and community organizations, framing the commission as a necessary step toward acknowledging and remedying the lasting impacts of slavery and systemic discrimination. By prioritizing this legislation, the caucus has ensured that the conversation around reparations remains at the forefront of the state’s policy agenda, building the political will needed to move the initiative forward.

While the state has acknowledged its deep history of slavery and discrimination, we understand that political representation alone does not rectify historical injustices; a formal study is essential to address these harms. With growing public support and successful models from other states, Maryland can no longer delay. The Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland calls upon our colleagues in the General Assembly to support legislation creating a commission to study reparations. This effort is not only about the past — it’s about our future, and by taking this step, we acknowledge our history, confront the present and build a more just path forward for all Marylanders

The time to act is now.

Del. Aletheia McCaskill is a Democrat representing District 44B and the lead sponsor of House Bill 1422. Sen. C. Anthony Muse is a Democrat representing District 26 and the lead sponsor of Senate Bill 587.