Fulton County Releases Landmark Reparations Report

600-page study details historical harms and economic toll of slavery, Jim Crow on Black community

Apr. 16, 2026 at 11:06pm

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A nostalgic, cinematic painting of an old, weathered house in a residential neighborhood, with warm sunlight casting long shadows across the scene, conveying a sense of the historical harms outlined in the Fulton County reparations report.The Fulton County reparations report details how discriminatory policies disrupted thriving Black communities for generations.Atlanta Today

A Fulton County task force has released a nearly 600-page report detailing the human and economic impact of slavery and Jim Crow-era policies on the county's Black community. The report, led by researchers Dr. Karcheik Sims-Alvarado and Dr. Amanda Meng, documents how practices like convict leasing, improper taxation, and land disparities disrupted thriving Black communities for generations. The task force was created in 2021 to investigate potential reparations, and the report is expected to inform future discussions among county leaders.

Why it matters

The Fulton County reparations report represents a landmark effort to comprehensively document the lasting harms of systemic racism and make the case for restorative justice. As more local governments explore reparations, this report could serve as a model for other communities seeking to understand and address the generational impacts of slavery and Jim Crow.

The details

The report cites that the value of enslaved people made up nearly 20% of Fulton County's annual revenue during the era of slavery. It also details how communities were disrupted by racist policies, with Black residents losing businesses, homes, and tight-knit neighborhoods. Key drivers of harm included convict leasing, improper taxation, and land disparities. While the report does not finalize specific reparations proposals, ideas mentioned include targeted housing assistance and scholarships.

  • The Fulton County reparations task force was created in 2021.
  • The nearly 600-page report was released on April 16, 2026.

The players

Fulton County Commissioner Marvin Arrington Jr.

The commissioner hosted a public panel to unveil the reparations report.

Dr. Karcheik Sims-Alvarado

The lead researcher on the reparations task force, who said the report documents how racism and discriminatory policies disrupted thriving Black communities.

Dr. Amanda Meng

The co-lead researcher on the reparations task force, who worked with Dr. Sims-Alvarado on the comprehensive report.

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What they’re saying

“This is a task force created by the county and the county has tasked us to investigate the wrongs committed against a group of people.”

— Dr. Karcheik Sims-Alvarado, Lead Researcher, Fulton County Reparations Task Force

“If they can do it in Evanston, Illinois, we can certainly do it here.”

— Fulton County Commissioner Marvin Arrington Jr.

“What we saw was that the value of enslaved people made up nearly 20% every single year of the revenue collected by the county.”

— Dr. Karcheik Sims-Alvarado, Lead Researcher, Fulton County Reparations Task Force

What’s next

The report is expected to inform future discussions among Fulton County leaders about potential reparations programs and policies.

The takeaway

The Fulton County reparations report represents a groundbreaking effort to comprehensively document and quantify the generational harms of slavery and Jim Crow, providing a model for other communities seeking to address systemic racism through restorative justice.