Reparations debate gets new life in Dem House

For the first time in years, lawmakers are seriously discussing the issue.

By HEATHER CAYGLE and LAURA BARRÓN-LÓPEZ 04/21/2019 06:53 AM EDT Updated 04/21/2019 07:29 AM EDT
Democrats have sidestepped the debate over reparations for African-Americans for decades. But now the issue is bubbling up in the House, and the new majority is wrestling with how to tackle it ahead of the 2020 campaign.

Sparked in part by the support of several presidential contenders, the topic has been discussed multiple times by top House Democrats, including at their retreat in the exurbs of Virginia earlier this month.

But the issue is likely to divide the party — not just by race, but by generation. The Congressional Black Caucus is notably split, with some younger African-American lawmakers clamoring to force the conversation into the open while more senior members worry about alienating moderate voters.

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But avoiding it — especially with Democrats controlling the House with the most diverse caucus in history — could also turn off voters of color who think it’s an important conversation to have, especially with President Donald Trump in the White House and white nationalism on the rise.

https://www.politico.com/story/2019/04/21/house-democrats-debate-reparations-1283460