To Whom It May Concern:
My name is Carnell Lamont Oliver. I write to initiate a national conversation on reparations for Black Americans, framed around the upcoming 14th Amendment case, expected in February or April 2026. The question before us is clear: what does justice and equity look like for descendants of enslaved Africans in the United States, and how do we ensure it is structurally guaranteed?
In exploring solutions, I considered multiple pathways, including a Convention of States. Yet, no single strategy suffices. We must pursue every viable avenue with creativity, rigor, and determination. History demands that we act boldly, and that our actions are guided by evidence, precedent, and the collective will of our community.
Inspired by the Department of Veterans Affairs, which provides targeted, organized support to veterans, I propose a Department of American Freedmen Affairs (DAFA)—a federal entity dedicated to addressing the historical, economic, educational, health, and legal inequities faced by Black Americans. This department would centralize resources, provide comprehensive programs, and ensure that the federal government actively advances the rights and welfare of a community that has carried the burden of this nation for generations.
DAFA would operate with a clear mandate: to uplift, protect, and empower Black Americans through measurable programs in education, entrepreneurship, housing, healthcare, and legal advocacy. By modeling this department on the VA, we can create an infrastructure that is permanent, well-resourced, and accountable, capable of producing tangible outcomes rather than temporary gestures.
The timing for action is critical. Following the Supreme Court’s anticipated decision on birthright citizenship—which I expect will affirm the intent of the 14th Amendment to protect descendants of free slaves—we will have both legal and moral leverage to demand structured, systemic change. Strategic engagement with the executive branch, whether via executive order or legislative advocacy, can establish the foundation for DAFA while generating nationwide momentum for broader support.
This manifesto is a call to action. It is a challenge to policymakers, legal scholars, community leaders, and activists: to consider how we convert ideas into institutions, and how we transform the promise of justice into enforceable, enduring programs. Black Americans have demonstrated unparalleled resilience, creativity, and leadership; now we must apply these qualities to shape institutions that serve us directly, sustainably, and equitably.
I invite engagement, collaboration, and debate on the creation of this department. Let us act decisively to ensure that our future is no longer determined by others, but by the collective power and vision of our own community.
Sincerely,
Carnell Lamont Oliver,
Published by Renaldo McKenzie,
Editor-in-Chief, The Neoliberal
