On Juneteenth, 2025 the New Jersey Reparations Council released its comprehensive report on the need for reparations in New Jersey: "For Such a Time as This: The Nowness of Reparations for Black People in New Jersey." The report covers a variety of relevant topics including the history of slavery and racism in the state, the current racial wealth gap, and the role faith organizations have played in slavery and racism. The entire report bears careful study, and should be read by all citizens of the state, but the recommendations for faith organizations are particularly relevant for the work of the Diocese of New Jersey Racial Justice Review:
"Faith institutions have played a significant role in the history of slavery and its aftermath in New Jersey, both through complicity and resistance. The Council recommends that religious institutions across the state, including religiously founded schools and theological schools that benefited from slavery, engage in a statewide reckoning on reparations and pay restitution. These organizations have a profound moral responsibility to address the historical injustices from which they profited. Some denominations have already begun reparations initiatives to meet this moral responsibility; more should follow. Religious institutions that benefited from slavery should engage in conversations with Black faith institutions and Black congregations to facilitate a theological reckoning, reconciliation and restorative work towards reparations. Religious institutions should invest funds, including grants and endowments for buildings, in New Jersey’s Black religious institutions."
We couldn't agree more. Thank you to the members of the New Jersey Reparations Council for your hard work and for the robust reporting.
