Evanston becomes 1st US city to offer Black residents reparations

"Evanston on Monday became the first U.S. city to make reparations available to its Black residents for past discrimination and the lingering effects of slavery.

Officials gave the go-ahead on how best to spend the first phase of the city’s reparations funding. Created in 2019, the reparations fund uses tax revenue from recreational marijuana to help African-American residents whose families suffered from past discrimination.

On Monday night, city council voted 8-1 in favor of passing the first initiative. Under the accepted program, $25,000 in funding will be allocated for 16 eligible African American residents for homing expenses."