By Rev. Jerome Stephens
Rev. Jerome Stephens, founder of the Clergy Legislative Prayer Breakfast, and other faith leaders are standing with Maryland Gov. Wes Moore in his veto of a bill related to the forming of a reparation commission.
Rev. Stephens, known as “The Country Preacher,” and others believe there are enough studies related to reparations. They are now calling for action.
Other faith leaders standing with the governor on this veto include Bishop Reginald Jackson, Bishop Donte Hickman, Rev. Dr. Henry P. Davis III, Rev. Dr. Harold Carter Jr., Bishop Tony Torain, Rev. Dr. C. Anthony Hunt, Rev. Roland Brown, Rev Dr. Quniton Herbert, Rev. Dr. Derrick DeWitt, Rev. Dr. Stacy Wilson, Dr. Jamison Hunter, Bishop Gregory Dennis, Bishop Antoine McClurkin, Father Peter Bramble, Rev. Dr. Matthew Jones, Rev. Dr. Alvin Hathaway, Bishop Anthony Maclin, Rev. Larry Galbreath and others.
The faith leaders issued a statement:
The General Assembly has done exceptional work on this bill, spearheaded by the Legislative Black Caucus. Maryland is proud to have the largest Black caucus in America, our first Black attorney general, our first Black United States senator, a Black treasurer, a Black speaker of the Maryland General Assembly and a Black governor.
● While important work went into this legislation, now is not the time for another study. Now is the time for continued action that delivers results for the people we serve.
● Over the last 25 years, Maryland has launched several commissions and study groups to examine the legacy of slavery in our state.
● In light of the many important studies that have taken place on this issue over nearly three decades, now is the time to focus on the work itself: Narrowing the racial wealth gap, expanding homeownership, uplifting entrepreneurs of color and closing the foundational disparities that lead to inequality – from food insecurity to education.
● Governor Moore ran for governor on these issues; only two and a half years in, the administration’s record already speaks for itself:
– Black-owned businesses have received more than $816 million in procurement awards.
-Governor Moore issued the largest state pardon in our nation’s history, pardoning 175,000 Maryland convictions for cannabis possession.
– The Moore-Miller Administration increased funding for HBCUs by nearly 60 percent, investing $1.34 billion towards Maryland’s historically black colleges and universities.
-By boosting the number of mortgages offered to first-time homebuyers, we’ve helped nearly 1,500 Black Marylanders pursue homeownership for the first time.
In addition to the statement above, the following individuals also made statements:
“It’s primarily a symbolic issue at this stage. Can be encouraging for Black people, discouraging for some others if he signs, but will not have any material impact any time soon. Down the road that might change after recommendations come out.”
- Dr. Donn Worgs, Towson University and Dr. Tamelyn Tucker-Worgs, Hood College
“I think that reparations are owed to us as a people, but I do not think that our energies should be directed toward reparation in this hour. I think we should be focused on responding appropriately to the present administration’s efforts to roll back the gains that we, African Americans, have made over the last 70 years.”
- Bishop Tony Torain
Our work is far from over. Together, we must take urgent action to address the barriers that have walled off Black families in Maryland from work, wages and wealth for generations.
Next session, in consultation with the General Assembly, Governor Moore will introduce a package of policies to help us accelerate our work in achieving these shared goals.