Shelby County is one step closer to a reparations plan for black citizens.
County commissioners met Wednesday night to approve funds for a $5 million study to evaluate the most effective way to create and establish reparations.
It resulted in a 8-3-2 vote.Those who approved the vote were Edmund Ford Jr., Erika Sugarmon, Charlie Caswell, Britney Thornton, Shante Avant, Miska Clay-Bibbs and Mickell Lowery.
Amber Mills, Brandon Morrison and Mick Wright all disapproved, while David Bradford and Michael Whaley abstained.
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The conversation of reparations sparked frustrations among the commissioners, with one calling reparations “un-American”.
“Most societies throughout history have had failings,” said Commissioner Morrison. “I believe it would not help the black people but rather it would hurt them. Personally, I see this resolution as un-American in a lot of ways.”
For Commissioner Sugarmon, the idea of being supportive of the vote is anything but “un-American”.“I don’t accept that, we have generations of generations of people serve this country,” she said. “Don’t dare say I’m un-American because I support this. Don’t dare do that.”
