Makenzie Morton, Outreach Specialist at NBCI Trust, Inc.
Attending the Congressional Black Caucus’s 55th Annual Legislative Conference as a young Black professional in reparative justice was a fulfilling and eye-opening experience. The conference was hosted in Washington, DC, the nation’s capital. Holding this conference in the city that has slowly been gentrified and commandeered from the Black community serves as an act of resistance. Throughout CBC week, I remained awestruck by the displays of Black brilliance.
The Washington Convention center served as a Black cultural hub for the week. Various booths for vendors, tabling for reparative justice initiatives, and opportunities for networking were plenty. There were also interactive exhibits such as, Why We Can’t Wait Network’s Reparations Exhibit, featuring receipts of harm inflicted on the Black community.
Along with the Reparations Exhibit, WWCW Network’s founder Driesen Heath, organized a Reparations Roundtable with Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley. During the roundtable, various members of CBC from across the nation gathered to discuss the progress of the Commission to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African-Americans Act, also known as the H.R. 40 bill. Words cannot express my gratitude for everyone involved. Being part of a discussion with legislative leaders was a novel experience for me. Prior to my joining the NBCI Trust team, I had little to no knowledge of the reparative justice work being done. The roundtable allowed me to experience reparative justice firsthand.
After attending various events, NBCI Trust also hosted an event in our DC office. The event, Breaking Bread: Black Women in Social and Reparative Justice, allowed for a respite from the hustle and bustle of the conference. Attendees enjoyed a casual lunch and discussion of our experiences in the field. We emphasized the importance of rest and each had the opportunity to discuss Tricia Hersey’s Nap Ministry, which holds rest as a radical tool for resistance. I am grateful that I had the opportunity to convene with such a wonderful group.