Mary lupien’s testimony before NY reparations committee

My name is Mary Lupien, and I serve as a member of the Rochester City Council. I am here today in support of reparations for Black Americans—not as an academic or historian, but as a public servant and neighbor who sees the lasting impact of racial injustice in my community every day.

Rochester is a city with a deep and painful history of racial inequity. It is a place where the promises of economic opportunity were systematically denied to Black residents through redlining, urban renewal, and decades of disinvestment. The effects of these policies are not abstract; they are visible in the stark racial wealth gap, in the concentrated poverty that grips our neighborhoods, and in the struggles of families trying to build a future despite the obstacles placed in their way. Today, Rochester has one of the highest poverty rates in the nation, and that is not by accident—it is the result of intentional policies that robbed Black residents of land, housing, and wealth.

The case for reparations is clear. After the Civil War, the promise of 40 acres and a mule was meant to provide a foundation for Black families to build generational wealth. When that promise was broken, it set in motion a cycle of economic exclusion that continues to this day. If that land had been granted and passed down through generations, Black families would have had access to the same wealth-building opportunities that white families did. The economic value of that stolen opportunity, calculated in today’s dollars, provides a tangible way to measure what was taken. But we also know that the harm extends beyond money—it is seen in lost lives, lost potential, and the ongoing racial disparities that shape our society.

In Rochester, we cannot separate our current reality from this history. Redlining maps from the 1930s show exactly how Black and immigrant communities were denied access to mortgages and homeownership, forcing them into overcrowded, underfunded neighborhoods. Decades later, the impact is still felt, with disinvestment leading to struggling schools, food deserts, and higher rates of unemployment and incarceration. These conditions did not arise by chance—they were designed by policy, and they must be repaired by policy.

Reparations are not about charity; they are about justice. They are about restoring what was taken and ensuring that Black communities have the resources to thrive. This is not just a federal issue—local governments, including Rochester, have responsibility to acknowledge harm and to create pathways for repair. That means looking at direct financial restitution, but also addressing disparities in policing, education,  homeownership, business development, and access to capital. It means undoing policies that continue to disadvantage Black residents and committing to a future where economic justice is a reality.

I want to acknowledge that, as someone who is not directly impacted by this history in the same way, I approach this topic with humility. I do not claim authority over this issue, but I recognize the responsibility of those in power to listen, to act, and to repair what has been broken. Reparations are not simply about financial compensation; they are about affirming Black dignity, self-determination, and the right to thrive.

This country has a moral obligation to make good on its promises. We have seen reparations work in other contexts—both internationally and domestically—when governments have had the courage to reckon with their past. The question is not whether reparations are possible, but whether we have the will to do what is right.

Thank you.