Philadelphia Considers Office to Explore Slavery Reparations

Proposed Office of Freedmen Affairs would guide potential reparations efforts for descendants of enslaved people.

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

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Philadelphia is considering establishing an Office of Freedmen Affairs to guide potential reparations efforts for descendants of enslaved people, including scholarships and tax relief benefits. The proposal comes as other states and cities, like California, have taken steps to study and implement reparations policies.

Why it matters

The creation of an Office of Freedmen Affairs would mark a significant step forward in Philadelphia's efforts to address the lasting impacts of slavery and systemic racism. Reparations have been a contentious but increasingly prominent issue, with proponents arguing they are necessary to begin repairing the generational harms caused by slavery and discrimination.

The details

The proposed Office of Freedmen Affairs would be tasked with guiding potential reparations efforts in Philadelphia, which could include scholarships, tax relief, and other programs aimed at supporting the descendants of enslaved people. The city already has a law, established in 2004, that requires insurance companies and banks with historical ties to slavery to disclose that information and explain any financial reparations.

  • In 2004, Philadelphia passed a law requiring insurance companies and banks to disclose historical ties to slavery.
  • In 2025, California established an office to study the legacy of slavery and implement reparations policies.

The players

Robert E. Williams

A Philadelphia resident whose great-grandmother was on one of the final slave ships to come to the United States.

Cara McClellan

A member of the Philadelphia Reparations Task Force, who believes the city needs to move forward with the Office of Freedmen Affairs.

Curtis Jones

A Philadelphia City Councilman who vowed to introduce legislation to create the Office of Freedmen Affairs.

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What they’re saying

“There's been a lot of really bright people before us. We can't answer that we're going to fix it today, because they were fighting the fights that they had to fight. We're the only ethnic group in this country — as a class of people — that have laws written against us since slavery ended. This is a way to start … addressing those things.”

— Robert E. Williams (whyy.org)

“It has to be a very practical conversation about how to implement the remedies that are required for the harms that are being documented. We can build on history. We can also build on what we know is being implemented in other states and at the local level.”

— Cara McClellan, Philadelphia Reparations Task Force (whyy.org)

What’s next

The proposed Office of Freedmen Affairs would need to be approved by the Philadelphia City Council, which has vowed to introduce legislation to create the office.

The takeaway

Philadelphia's consideration of an Office of Freedmen Affairs reflects a growing national movement to address the lasting impacts of slavery and systemic racism through reparations programs. While the details and implementation remain to be worked out, the proposal represents a significant step forward in the city's efforts to confront its history and work towards racial justice.