NewsAmerica in Crisis

Actions

Evanston, Illinois, becomes 1st city in US to offer Black residents reparations

Virus Outbreak Illinois
Posted
and last updated

EVANSTON, Ill. (AP) — Evanston, Illinois, has become the first U.S. city to make reparations available to its Black residents for past discrimination and the lingering effects of slavery.

The Chicago suburb’s City Council voted 8-1 late Monday to distribute $400,000 to eligible Black households.

Each qualifying household would receive $25,000 for home repairs or down payments on property.

The program is being funded through donations and a 3% tax on the sale of recreational marijuana.

Qualifying residents must either have lived in or been a direct descendant of a Black person who lived in Evanston between 1919 to 1969 and who suffered discrimination in housing because of city ordinances, policies or practices.

Learn more about the city's reparations here.

,

Weather

Daily Forecast

View Hourly Forecast

Day

Conditions

HI / LO

Precip

Friday

05/29/2026

Clear

-° / 56°

4%

Saturday

05/30/2026

Clear

84° / 60°

2%

Sunday

05/31/2026

Clear

90° / 63°

0%

Monday

06/01/2026

Mostly Clear

95° / 67°

0%

Tuesday

06/02/2026

Mostly Clear

95° / 66°

0%

Wednesday

06/03/2026

Clear

94° / 66°

0%

Thursday

06/04/2026

Clear

94° / 67°

0%

Friday

06/05/2026

Mostly Clear

94° / 65°

0%