The Metro: Detroit Reparations Task Force seeking input from residents for next report

The Detroit Reparations Task Force is looking for input from residents as they’re preparing its June report for city council.

Formed in 2023 to explore how Detroit can address “historical discrimination” and harm it has caused Black residents, the group is tasked with putting forth recommendations for potential housing and economic development programs that help address past injustices.

The Detroit Documenters have been following Detroit Reparations Task Force meetings since the group’s initial meeting in April 2023.

The group says the survey will help inform its June report, which has the potential to mark the end of the task force entirely. That has some residents concerned, making the argument that addressing historic injustices should be an ongoing practice in the city.

To discuss this further, Metro Producer Jack Filbrandt spoke with Detroit Documenters Coordinator Lynelle Herndon and Documenter Sherrie Smith, who recently interviewed task force member Jasahn Larsosa for Outlier Media. 

Larsosa and the DRTF subcommittee he sits on wrote a 29-page report to start putting some of their ideas to paper. 

“(Larsosa) wanted people to have something that they could visually see, kind of comprehend, throw at the wall, see how it landed,” Smith said. “Tear apart, his words not mine, tear apart and, you know, give that feedback and say, ‘Hey, you know, whether good or bad, we like this. We don’t like this. We feel like this works.’” 

Interested in becoming a Detroit Documenter? The next orientation is May 3 and you can sign up here. 

Use the media player above to hear the full conversation.

Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand.