Cities Push Firms on Past Slavery Ties

Associated Press via Yahoo ^ | June 19, 2003 | Deborah Kong

[schaketo]

A growing number of cities are considering measures that would require companies that receive city contracts to first scour their corporate archives and disclose whether they ever profited from slavery.

The cities have taken a cue from California. Two years ago, the state began making insurance companies that do business there provide information about policies they or their predecessors issued to slaveholders, covering them for the "damage" or death of slaves.

Last fall, Chicago passed an ordinance dictating that companies working with the city must reveal any past ties to slavery. New York, Detroit and Cleveland are considering similar proposals, and the Los Angeles City Council is expected to take up a measure Friday.

"It's very, very important for the public to know with whom we are contracting their dollars," said New York City Council Member Bill Perkins, who introduced a bill this spring. "It's just part of reconciling the past, understanding the past."

In many cases, the measures have been pushed by advocates who back reparations for descendants of slaves.

None of the legislation calls for companies to pay reparations, but if they refuse to search their records, they won't be able to do business with the cities. The measures don't specify what would happen if companies find evidence of profits from slavery, but officials say they wouldn't be penalized when seeking city contracts.

However, details revealed by companies could be used to identify targets for future lawsuits, and to help build legal cases, said reparations advocate Deadria Farmer-Paellmann.

Farmer-Paellmann is the lead plaintiff in one of in nine lawsuits filed in federal court against 18 insurance, textile, railroad, financial services and tobacco companies.

The bills are "part of a growing demand by consumers for the truth about corporate complicity in criminal activity — in this case complicity in a crime against humanity," Farmer-Paellmann said. They also help "tell the complete story of how Africans helped build this nation's wealth."

Nicole Mahrt, a spokeswoman for the American Insurance Association, said reparations lawsuits "place a huge strain on our legal system." And if companies had to pay reparations, consumers could face higher rates, she said.

"Slavery is a scar on our country's history," she said. "We're happy to provide the data" to cities and states, Mahrt said, but "I don't think there's a treasure trove people think is out there."

Los Angeles City Council Member Nate Holden, who introduced one of the bills, said he hopes companies that discover they profited from slavery may decide to offer scholarships and recreational programs for inner city youth.

So far, only the state of California has received any information from companies. Last year, it reported that six companies had found some evidence that slaves were insured. The companies provided the names of more than 300 slaveholders who were issued insurance policies on almost 700 slaves.

In Chicago, about 1,000 contracts have been awarded since its legislation took effect in February. All of those companies have denied finding records about past profits from slavery, said Jessica Maxey-Faulkner, a spokeswoman for the city's department of procurement services.

Chicago Alderman Dorothy Tillman, who is skeptical of their claims, said she's organized a research team to further delve into companies' ties to slavery.

Some black genealogists hope the data can be used for another purpose — tracing their roots and reuniting them with long-lost relatives.

"Now we can begin to share the information and piece it together, what actually happened to our family after slavery," said Denise Griggs, president of the African American Genealogy Society of Sacramento, Calif.

In Illinois, state Rep. Monique Davis introduced a bill similar to California's. It has passed both houses and is awaiting the governor's signature.

"I'm grateful to my colleagues for understanding that my history in America is as important to me as their history in Europe is important to them," said Davis, whose great-grandmother was a slave. "This is opening the door."

[FReepaholic]

>>..."It's just part of reconciling the past, understanding the past." ...<<

No it's not. It's blackmailing.

[stainlessbanner]

"This is opening the door."

Already has, unfortunately.

[DB]

Insanity.

[schaketo]

=== Cut === Paste === Email to Friends and Family ===

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Can you think of any other questions we should ask them?

=== Cut === Paste === Email to Friends and Family ===

[Dead Corpse]

ENOUGH!!!

There are no living people who were slaves.

There are no living slave owners.

GET OVER IT!!! KNOCK IT OFF!!

Or are they TRYING to start a "race war"?

I am so SICK to death of this crap....

[chachacha]

Liberalism, lack of common sence, stupidity, out of touch, uninterested white community and Political correctness will be the downfall of this great nation.

When the "Hell" will all those who don't fit the above catagories get off their duff and stand up for what's right.

The worst thing that ever happen to this country was?

You fill in the blanks.

They will be numerous and painfull to some.

[Steve_Seattle]

Slavery was abolished nearly 140 years ago - isn't it time to move on?

[wasp69]

"It's just part of reconciling the past, understanding the past."

No, it's not. It's about shakedown and liberal guilt.

[RJL]

Jesse Jackson’s cadre of companies and friends are making more money from slavery than any other company or group of people ever did.

Has Jesse filed yet?

[Steve_Seattle]

"It's very, very important for the public to know with whom we are contracting their dollars," said New York City Council Member Bill Perkins, who introduced a bill this spring.

Mr. Perkins, the people who carried on those business practices have been dead for a hundred years, and any presumed business advantage derived from slavery would have been exhausted long ago. With all due respect, get a life.

[Steve_Seattle]

The only good thing about this sort of nonsense is that it can only serve to push people in the direction of conservatism.

[gulfcoast6]

Madness, nothing but madness. I do not own slaves, never have or never will, it is just getting something for nothing but thats the name of the game for them I guess.

I am a southerner, we were abused used by Gen Sherman and I want to be paid for this.

[joesnuffy]

The only good thing about this sort of nonsense is that it can only serve to push people in the direction of conservatism.

In light of the Presidents message on the virtue of "diversity" and its importance in usurping the constitution not to mention a conscience... I'd be happy if it pushed conservatives in the direction of conservtism....

[Dead Corpse]

My entire family has been in the US only about 100 years. If one red cent of my tax money goes to the Race Pimps...

I've got so many lines drawn in the sand, it's getting hard to keep track of them all....

[Calpernia]

Just read post #5. This is some type of blackmailing for contributions.

Dirty playing by dems.

[mhking]

Oh, right. Let 'em paint targets on their chests so the race warlords can go snipe hunting? Please. This reparations crap really needs to be put to rest once and for all.

[freekitty]

Can these cities get any dumber?

[Republicus2001]

So will the Los Angeles City Council require the Peoples Revolutionary Army to disclose their slavery profits?

[freekitty]

If this is racism, I don't know what is?