Wilmington Taskforce calls for action on racial injustices in recent report

Wilmington’s Reparations Taskforce report outlines the impacts and history of systemic racism and discrimination against African American residents. (Photo Credit Tingey Injury Law Firm)

WILMINGTON — The Wilmington City Council has formally accepted the final report from its Reparations Taskforce, advancing efforts to address the historical and ongoing impacts of systemic racism and discrimination against African American residents.

The report outlines key areas where the Black community has experienced harm. These include housing discrimination, educational inequities, limited access to economic development opportunities, disparities in health and wellness, and the effects of the criminal justice system.

Formed as part of a broader effort that began with a 2019 city resolution and an initial housing reparations program launched in 2021, the Taskforce was charged with studying potential pathways toward reparative justice in the city.

“One of the things that we really broke down in that report was outlining some action steps that City Council could take and some steps that the state can take as well, to start rectifying some of the wrongs that we were able to identify through some of the pain points that were in the report,”  said Taskforce chair, Council Member Coby Owens. 

Recommendations in the report include:

• Establishing a permanent Reparations Office or Authority to lead implementation.
• Creating both direct benefit programs for eligible residents and broader community reparations initiatives.
• Expanding the city’s reparations funding sources beyond cannabis tax revenue to include city funds, philanthropic support, and potential state and federal contributions. 
• Continuing community engagement efforts and promoting truth-telling and education around the city’s racial history.

Disparities in the criminal justice system continue to raise concern, particularly when sentencing outcomes vary based on geography rather than the severity of the crime. Local leaders have begun to address some of these inequities, especially in how drug-related offenses are handled. 

“Some of the things that we found was sentencing when it comes to drug drug charges,” Owens said. “Because the city has more of a saturation of schools, it was more likely that an individual who lived in the city of Wilmington would get a longer sentence than someone who lived out in the suburbs, which led to greater disparities in the community.” 

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To ensure transparency and accountability, the report recommends continued community engagement, regular progress reporting, and the establishment of clear oversight mechanisms.

“We want more investment into that, so that they can scale up their impact on the community.”

Cities like Wilmington are taking cues from pioneering efforts in other parts of the country. Drawing inspiration from places like Evanston, Illinois and the state of California, local leaders have begun shaping their own approach to addressing historical injustices. 

“Just looking at other states as they’re starting to move in that direction as well,” said Owens, “we had conversations with some individuals just about how they structured theirs, and then how we wanted to make our recommendations.”

City officials emphasized that the report will serve as a roadmap for future actions. While no specific timeline was provided for implementation, the council’s acceptance of the report marks a formal commitment to exploring the recommendations in depth.

“Hopefully, based off the recommendations, we can start moving the ball in the right direction.” 

Claudia Estrada

Claudia is a Philadelphia-based journalist and reporter passionate about storytelling that informs and engages the community. Claudia, a proud Temple University graduate, has built a career covering impactful stories and creating compelling content across digital and print media platforms. With a strong background in writing, editing, and research, Claudia has worked on various topics, from local news to in-depth features, always striving to deliver meaningful and accurate reporting.