Evanston Distributes $25K Reparations Payments to 44 Black Residents

The Illinois city's reparations program is the first of its kind in the nation.

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The city of Evanston, Illinois will issue $25,000 reparations payments to 44 Black residents as part of its groundbreaking reparations program. Established in 2019 and approved by the City Council in 2021, the program provides direct cash payments to Black residents and descendants of Black residents who lived in Evanston between 1919 and 1969. The payments are intended to cover housing expenses.

Why it matters

Evanston's reparations program is the first of its kind in the United States, setting a precedent for other municipalities to follow in addressing the lingering effects of slavery and systemic racism. The program has faced legal challenges, but the city remains committed to providing tangible compensation to its Black community.

The details

The reparations fund is primarily supported by a cannabis sales tax and real estate tax money, as it did not receive any philanthropic donations this year. The city plans to contact the 44 recipients in the coming weeks to inform them that their $25,000 payments are on the way. Judicial Watch, a conservative watchdog group, has filed a lawsuit against the program, alleging that it violates the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment by using race as an eligibility requirement.

  • The reparations program was established in 2019 and approved by the City Council in 2021.
  • The city will be issuing the $25,000 payments to 44 residents over the next few weeks.

The players

Evanston

The city of Evanston, Illinois, which is the first municipality in the United States to pass a reparations plan, pledging $10 million over a decade to Black residents.

Cynthia Vargas

An Evanston official who stated that the $25,000 payments are intended to cover housing expenses for the recipients.

Tasheik Kerr

The assistant to the Evanston city manager, who announced that the 44 residents will be contacted to inform them that their payments are on the way.

Krissie Harris

An Evanston alderman who recognized that the proposed tax on Delta-8 THC products would not significantly increase revenue, but would 'help keep moving that number forward' in the reparations process.

Judicial Watch

A conservative watchdog group that has filed a lawsuit against Evanston's reparations program, alleging that it violates the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“It's really important for people to understand we pay as we have the money, and it's not that we're withholding from paying everyone. It's just we have to accumulate the funds to make sure we can pay.”

— Krissie Harris, Alderman (The Daily Northwestern)

What’s next

The judge in the lawsuit filed by Judicial Watch will decide on the program's legality in the coming months.

The takeaway

Evanston's reparations program represents a groundbreaking effort to address the lasting impacts of slavery and systemic racism, setting a precedent for other municipalities to follow. However, the program faces legal challenges, underscoring the complexities and controversies surrounding the issue of reparations.