Fulton County Releases Landmark Reparations Report

600-page study outlines centuries of harm, setting stage for potential reparations recommendations.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 2:04am

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A cinematic painting of an empty county government building or courthouse, with warm sunlight streaming through the windows and deep shadows across the facade, conceptually representing the historical injustices detailed in the Fulton County reparations report.The Fulton County Reparations Task Force's landmark report documents centuries of harm, setting the stage for potential reparations recommendations.Atlanta Today

A years-long effort to document the lasting impact of slavery and systemic discrimination in Fulton County, Georgia has resulted in a sweeping 600-page reparations report, the first of its kind at the county level. The report, released by the Fulton County Reparations Task Force, examines how government policies and practices contributed to racial disparities in wealth, health, housing, and criminal justice over centuries. Researchers quantified the financial impact of these harms, with a conservative estimate tied to slavery alone reaching $903 billion. The task force has been given an extension through 2027 to develop formal reparations recommendations for the Fulton County Board of Commissioners.

Why it matters

This landmark report is the first of its kind at the county level, setting a potential blueprint for other local governments across the U.S. to acknowledge and address the lasting impacts of slavery and systemic racism. The detailed documentation of harm and attempts to quantify the financial toll could strengthen the case for reparations and spur similar efforts in other jurisdictions.

The details

The Fulton County Reparations Task Force spent nearly five years researching the role of county government policies and practices in contributing to racial disparities. They focused on areas where the county has direct responsibility, such as courts, jails, elections, libraries, and public health. The report documents a wide range of historical injustices, including the use of enslaved labor to build public infrastructure, discriminatory housing policies that excluded Black residents from certain neighborhoods, and disproportionate incarceration rates. Researchers used an "extraction and accumulation" model to calculate the value of stolen labor, lost wages, and compounded interest over time, estimating the impact of just 10 years of slavery in Fulton County at around $903 billion.

  • The Fulton County Reparations Task Force was first introduced in 2021.
  • The task force has been given an extension through at least 2027 to develop formal reparations recommendations.

The players

Fulton County Reparations Task Force

A county-level task force that spent nearly five years researching the historical and ongoing impacts of slavery and systemic racism in Fulton County, Georgia.

Marvin Arrington Jr.

A Fulton County Commissioner who first introduced the idea of a reparations task force in 2021 after seeing similar efforts in Evanston, Illinois.

Dr. Karcheik Sims-Alvarado

The chair of the Fulton County Reparations Task Force.

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What they’re saying

“This is phase one. We've identified and documented the harm. Now the question becomes—what do we do about it?”

— Marvin Arrington Jr., Fulton County Commissioner

“This is the first reparations task force developed at the county level.”

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

“Black people literally built the county.”

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

What’s next

The Fulton County Reparations Task Force has been given an extension through at least 2027 to develop formal reparations recommendations, which will then go before the Fulton County Board of Commissioners for a vote. The recommendations could include a range of options, from direct payments to community investments or policy changes.

The takeaway

This landmark report is the first of its kind at the county level, setting a potential blueprint for other local governments across the U.S. to acknowledge and address the lasting impacts of slavery and systemic racism. The detailed documentation of harm and attempts to quantify the financial toll could strengthen the case for reparations and spur similar efforts in other jurisdictions.