Okay family, pull up a chair because we need to talk. Washington State recently became the third state in America to fund a reparations study for African Americans, and it should be a moment to celebrate. The Legislature allocated $300,000 in seed funding, and the Washington Equity Now Alliance — a community-based organization doing the real work — raised another $450,000 to ensure this sacred study is done right. Governor Ferguson signed the law that spells out who’s qualified to lead the study: a PhD focused on reparations, peer-reviewed publications, expertise in calculating uncompensated slave labor, and lived experience. So far, so good, right?
But here’s where it gets messy. The Department of Commerce is creating its own procurement rules, and its decisions are now preventing the community from securing qualified consultants for this work. Somehow, an “apparent successful bidder” has been named – a company called Truclusion that doesn’t appear to meet ANY of the legal requirements got through the procurement process — while the nation’s leading reparations scholar, an UCLA endowed chair and Howard University department head who literally wrote a BOOK on Reparations, was denied due process on a technicality when he asked for his legal right to a debriefing. How is the state this incompetent with something this important?
Sisters Audrey and Melannie sit down with Attorney Jesse Wineberry Sr. — former five-term state legislator, first Black House Majority Whip in Washington’s history, and Chair of WENA — to break it down, shed light on the matter, and invite the community to take action. Somethin’ ought to be said. What say YOU?
Links
Washington Equity NOW Alliance
Reparative Study for Washington Descendants – Washington State Department of Commerce
Truclusion Website (Apparent Successful Bidder)
Dr. Marcus Anthony Hunter
Review of City-Level Reparations across the United States (.PDF)
Dept. of Commerce WENA Community Partner Designation (REPARATIONS STUDY) (.PDF)
WASHINGTON REPARATIONS STUDY BUDGET (.PDF)
Calls to Action
Support Dr. Marcus Anthony Hunter
The Department of Commerce has denied Dr. Marcus Anthony Hunter his legal right to a debrief in accordance with Washington State Law RCW 39.26.170(2). He now must incur legal costs to challenge this injustice. It’s not about the “contract” anymore – it’s about the “principle” of the matter and the blatant disrespect of “Black Excellence.”
Please support Dr. Hunter in this fight. This work is SACRED and COLLECTIVE.
File a public records request
Department of Commerce – Public Records Request
Office of the Governor – Public Records Request
CUT & PASTE THIS TEXT INTO YOUR EMAIL
Pursuant to RCW 42.56, I request all records in any format—including emails, texts, memos, notes, meeting minutes, and other documents—related to COMMERCE RFP 26-33740-001 (Charles Mitchell and George Washington Bush Reparations Study), managed by Michelle Griffin, Department of Commerce:
1. Bidder Evaluation and Selection
3. Delegation of Authority
4. Conflict of Interest Documentation
[email protected]
Natasha Langer
Public Disclosure Specialist
Operations Division Office Services
[email protected]
Tricia Smith
Director of Public Information & Records
