Our Reparations - Raymond Two Hawks Watson

Our Reparations - Raymond Two Hawks Watson

On reparations in Providence, I have a few thoughts to share. For those who are new to my column, I have been blessed to be intimately involved with City of Providence Mayor Jorge O. Elorza’s Truth Telling, Reconciliation, and Reparations initiative since its inception in 2020. Initially, I was a contributor to the 1696 Heritage Society’s “A Matter of Truth” report which documented the historical experiences of the African heritage and Indigenous communities of Providence, Rhode Island; communities to which I maintain generational, communal, and professional ties. Motivated by the experiences detailed in the report, through a collaborative partnership between the Providence Cultural Equity Initiative and Roger Williams University, I was blessed to co-facilitate the reconciliation phase of Mayor Elorza’s initiative. Working with Dr. Brian Hendrickson, PCEI and RWU conducted 9 months of community engagement that included compiling online surveys, conducting in-person interviews, and producing of a mini-documentary highlighting individuals with personal or generational ties to urban renewal in Providence during the 1950s and 1960s. A comprehensive report was produced detailing the responses received from the community, data obtained during the reconciliation phase, and key areas for reparations investment as identified by respondents. A strategy for sustaining reconciliation efforts related to the Truth Telling report was also created. The Reconciliation report was well received, and I was pleased with the work I had accomplished in support of reparations for the African heritage and Indigenous communities of Providence.

 

I was both honored and surprised to be invited by Mayor Elorza to serve on the City of Providence Municipal Reparations Commission. As I was completing my final semester of law school at Roger Williams University School of Law, I wanted to be sure that I could properly commit to the Commission’s work. Due to the rigors of my law school studies, I was not an active participant in the African American Ambassadors Group, but I saw the Commission as a means of continuing to support the important work the AAAG had initiated. As such, I agreed to serve on the Commission. The Commission met on Mondays from 1pm to 3pm and meetings were open to the public for attendance and commitment. Building upon the community feedback received during the reconciliation phase, the Commission held further community engagement sessions throughout Providence to gain more community input. At the request of Sonja Thomas, a member of the Narragansett Indian Tribe currently living in Providence, PCEI facilitated two additional community engagement sessions specific to identifying the interests of the Indigenous community related to reparations in Providence. This feedback was compiled into a report that was read aloud at a Commission meeting and submitted to the Commission for consideration in the final report recommendations.

GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST

 

At times discussion among Commissioners became quite passionate. I was a persistent contributor in this regard. Dialogue regarding eligibility requirements and the impact of federal mandates and restrictions on the use of ARPA funding was ongoing. Presentations were requested and targeted questions were posed. Eventually it was understood that the initial ARPA allocation was to be considered seed funding to lay the foundation for subsequent support and investments. I took this to mean that the report needed to be structured relevant to post-ARPA funding opportunities and interest for Providence African heritage and indigenous communities. Further concerns were raised regrding the timeliness of appointments to the Commission. Such concerns ultimately led to the Commission being granted a 30-day extension to finalize its report. To ensure that the final report was true to the spirit of the work, I consistently advocated that every segment of the report expressly state that the resources and supports allocated were specifically for African heritage and Indigenous communities. I was adamant that the language was necessary to ensure that the communities harmed were the ones that benefited from the resources allocated after the ARPA seed funding was exhausted. The Commission agreed, and the suggestions were included in the final recommendations of the report. In the end, I was pleased with the language of the Commission’s final report. In my opinion, the Commission’s report is a solid strategy to start the work of reparations for African heritage and Indigenous communities of Providence, and I commend the Commissioners who contributed their time and energy throughout the process.

I’ve shared in the past that during my graduate studies at URI, I was blessed to be mentored by Dr. Marsha Marker Feld, a giant in the field of community planning. Among many key lessons imparted to me during my studies, one of Dr. Feld’s most persistently relevant admonitions was to “Always remember who’s your client.” Dr. Feld was adamant; the moment you, as a community advocate, forget who it is that you serve is the moment you become capable of doing great harm to the community you serve. I never forgot Dr. Feld’s remarks, and they were no more relevant than at the September 29, 2022, Providence Finance Committee meeting as I listened to criticism from community members. The underlying premise was concerns about the lack of effective engagement with the community in the process for development of the budget. Initially I was offended. Given how much community engagement had been conducted throughout, how could anyone argue that there was not enough community engagement? After initially deciding to not share any remarks, I attempted to sign the speaker's list so that I could tell everyone how much work had been conducted. However—and in hindsight, quite appropriately—I was informed by a City staffer that the time for public comment had expired. I left the Finance Committee Meeting both frustrated and confused, and my next few social media posts reflected my feelings. What on earth was going on?

 

It was at this point that I reflected on Dr. Feld’s advice. The truth of the matter was, it did not matter how much time or effort I had personally or professionally put in, or how much community engagement had already been conducted. The community is the client, and as a adbocate for the community in this process my position is that if the client has concerns about the final product, then it is my job to listen to those concerns and respond accordingly. Accordingly, I engaged with my client; the community. I reached out to Providence City Councilwoman Mary Kay Harris to better understand the concerns that she had received prompting her to raise the amendment to the final budget. I also touched based with long-time colleagues and fellow community advocates Henrietta White-Holder, Dwayne Keys, and Pilar McCloud to get their feedback on the community’s perspective and concerns. In short, I remembered who my client was . . . and in the end, I agreed with the community’s concerns. The community wanted more input into how the budget for reparations was allocated and wanted to be sure the resources were going to the communities that were harmed. That’s why I supported Councilwoman Harris’ amendments, which consequently were passed by the Providence Finance Committee on Tuesday, November 11, 2022. Now the budget goes back to the full City Council for consideration and passage

In the end, I’m extremely proud of the consistent role that Creator allowed me to play in the progression of this very important work, and of the work of the Providence Municipal Reparations Commission. Reparations for African heritage and Indigenous communities is not only appropriate and necessary, but also an initiative well-past due in the City of Providence. Ultimately however, reparations is a process that must be of, by, and for the people it is meant to make whole; after all, the people are the client.

 

“Always remember who’s your client.” Dr. Feld’s words of wisdom remain relevant to this day.

 

That’s my 3 cents.

 

Raymond Two Hawks Watson, J.D., M.C.P.