Chicago City Wire

The recent resolution passed by the Chicago City Council apologizing for slavery, alongside Mayor Brandon Johnson’s initiatives related to reparations, has sparked debate over their effectiveness in addressing issues faced by Black communities in Chicago.

Critics question the relevance of these measures given Illinois’ historical role as a free state and its significant contribution to the Union during the Civil War. The city’s diverse population includes 1.2 million first- or second-generation immigrants, many of whom have no ancestral ties to slavery. Some argue that imposing collective guilt on these groups fosters unnecessary division.

"Mayor Johnson nevertheless leans heavily on racial grievances, casting every criticism as rooted in racism and every policy failure as a legacy of injustice. This approach does nothing to advance true equity; instead, it cheapens the legitimate demands for increased investment and support for Black Chicagoans. Johnson's apologies and reparations maneuvers are nothing more than political tactics, intended to distract and divide; they are designed to deflect criticism — especially among Black residents who rightly feel abandoned by City Hall’s migrant policies."

There is also criticism regarding education policy under Johnson’s administration. The mayor has not addressed past actions taken by the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU), where he previously held leadership roles. These include strikes and school closures that critics say disproportionately affected low-income Black and Latino students.

"No apology for CTU efforts to eliminate even public school choice as the mayor and his former CTU employers are aligned in their efforts to discriminate against and ultimately close public charter and magnet schools. Public charters recieve over $8,600 less per pupil than the district average and little facility support while the public magnet schools on average receive less per-pupil funding. Meanwhile charter schools are capped in number and enrollment and a plethora of mandates is degrading their quality and forcing many to close or convert to traditional CTU schools."

For families seeking alternatives to neighborhood schools, charter and magnet programs often serve majority Black or Latino students from low-income backgrounds. Limitations on these options have been described as "educational redlining," with nearly 98 percent of charter enrollees being Black or Latino.

Public safety remains another concern. Since 2019, officer positions have been reduced by nearly 1,700 — including 833 since Johnson took office — leading to police responding to only half of all emergency calls. Clearance rates for major crimes remain low at just above five percent, with Black residents accounting for a disproportionate share of victims.

Statewide economic disparities persist despite decades-long Democratic control in Illinois government. The state ranks poorly for racial economic equity despite high tax burdens on residents.

"If apologies are being issued, perhaps it should begin with the Democratic Party. This is the party of the Confederacy and slavery. It is the party of Jim Crow, of social policies that effectively destroyed the Black family... Except for one Republican term from 1927 to 1931, Chicago has had a Democratic mayor since 1923, for a period of over 98 years."

Budget priorities under Johnson have also come under scrutiny. Programs like “Treatment Not Trauma” have reopened only three mental health centers out of twelve closed under previous administrations. New offices addressing environmental or reentry issues remain limited in size and resources while youth employment programs have only returned to pre-pandemic levels.

Affordable housing claims have also faced skepticism after official statements about investment amounts were deleted following questions about accuracy.

At present, costs associated with “sanctuary” policies continue rising — an estimated $3 billion statewide with more than $600 million allocated by Chicago alone — while expenditures on migrants impact public school budgets significantly.

Before this influx of new arrivals began affecting city resources further, more than 265,000 Black residents had already left Chicago since 2000 due largely to concerns about safety, education quality, and opportunity loss; current enrollment figures show fewer than half as many Black students in public schools compared with two decades ago.

"Lasting equity cannot be achieved through empty resolutions or symbolic reparations. It requires firm action: safer neighborhoods, accessible school choices, reliable public transit, and policies that foster family strength, local ownership, and generational wealth... Only thoughtful, well-crafted policy will suffice."