This commentary is by Rev. Mark Hughes, executive director of the Vermont Racial Justice Alliance, based in Burlington.
Earlier this month, the bill that proposes “to prohibit covenants in deeds that purport to restrict the ownership of property on the basis of race or religion and to establish the removal of such covenants from such deeds” (H.551) was taken up in the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Unfortunately, discussions surrounding the purpose and tenets of this bill seem to have been absent impacted (Black and brown) community stakeholder inclusion. This is troubling, given the fact that “redlining” is the linchpin of generational wealth transfer and the cornerstone of systemic racism.
Whatever the intent, the proposed bill fails to adequately acknowledge those harmed or consider the ongoing infrastructure required to support a data-driven approach to further address such harm.
The bill was submitted to the Legislature by the Burlington city attorney. Last week, Tyeastia Green, the former director, categorically rejected the Burlington city attorney’s premise that the desire for this bill was that of the Racial Equity Inclusion and Belonging Department.
Meanwhile, the Burlington Reparations Task Force has been inactive for the past eight months and ominously has been waiting for the release of deed records from the city clerk’s office for over a year.
The 2021 Joint Legislative Resolution relating to racism as a public health emergency resolved that the Legislature “commits to the sustained and deep work of eradicating systemic racism throughout the State, actively fighting racist practices, and participating in the creation of more just and equitable systems, and … participating in ongoing action, grounded in science and data, to eliminate race-based health disparities and eradicate systemic racism….”
Vermont Black and brown community stakeholders must be centered in the creation of any bill related to the work of eradicating systemic racism, particularly where this work involves addressing its very linchpin — generational wealth.
This will give those who are impacted by this legacy of slavery the ability to engage in the process and ensure that the bill does not lead to unintended consequences.
There should be nothing about us without us.