john conyers was a great man and a great leader, and properly remembered here today. the second individual most responsible for h.r. 40 is unfortunately for the most despised characters in american history john wilkes booth. why john wilkes booth? because when he assassinated abraham lincoln that led to enter john to becoming president of the united states and president johnson effectively rescinded the promise made by general tecumseh sherman to form a slave from each be guaranteed the 40 acres of land and that mule, that each person, it would become free, free persons promise 40 acres and a mule. that ended with assassination of president lincoln and it really started off a serious problems in a country and shortchanged the newly freed americans. h.r. 40 would create a commission to study the history of slavery in america, the role of the federal and state governments and supporting slavery and racial discrimination. other forms of of discretion against the descendents of slaves, effects of slavery on african-americans. the commission would make recommendation as to

h.r. 40 as you know has a long history thanks to the congressman john conyers.even before the civil war anticipation individual black awakens fought for limited reparation. our community demand for reparation did not arrive by itself but inspired by the black communities fight for civil in level until legal rights of housing, education and more. their sacrifice and leadership open the doors for us and gaveea us the strength to demand reparation for the u.s. government paid we have to acknowledge the generous support of many black individuals who supported the campaign by congressman and author to japanese american redressability 1982. ron dillon supported the bill in the black congressional caucus and many others including california assembly woman maxine waters and reverend jesse jackson. h.r. 40 is an important first step for reparations for the black community. in 1981 in a commission wartime the cw ric, commission to study atio the wrong committed was fit opposed, many of us including me were against it. angry that the injustice of a concentration camp was e

h.r. 40 has a long history thanks to congressman john conyers.ore the civil war individual black americans fought for and won limited reparations. our community needs to demand for reparations did not arise by itself but was inspired by the black community civil and equal rights and housing association and more. their sacrifices and leadership open the door for us and gavedes the strength. we have to have knowledge the generous support of many black individuals who support us in our campaign for redress by congressman who offered aid -- in 1982 and ron dellums two spoke in support of the bill and the black congressional caucus and many others including ben senate woman maxine waters and reverend jesse jackson. h.r. 40 is an important first step for reparations for the black community. in 1981 when a commission on wartime negotiation the cw ric a commission to study if iran had been committed was first imposed many of us including me were against it angry that the injustice of the concentration camps was even a question. though he soon understood

>> well, it's been an issue since congressman conyers brought this issue forward years ago. naacp have always been in support, senator conyers active member of the naacp detroit branch. he the foresight of bringing this issue forward in the '70s. again, there's been intentional harm by this government. there's been harm created that's never been addressed. and if the japanese could be considered for reparation because of interment, in the jewish community could be considered because of the holocaust, we have endured harm for centuries, not only because of slavery but the wealth gap is the direct result of the home mortgage loan. the wealth gap is the direct result of being excluded from social security benefits because legislators put into the bill if you're a domestic or agriculture worker, those employers were exempt from paying into the social security system. so many generations were locked out of accumulating wealth. >> i'm really glad you put all of that out there, derrick johnson. we will have you back as this progresses, hopefully, in congress. thank you very much. >

study reparations for the black descendents of enslaved people ever since the late congressman john conyersand every congress has failed to pass it. now we're not talking about, you know, actual reparations, just a study. advocates are saying this is the year it could be passed. following the issues of floyd, it passed we will be one step closer to addressing the wrongs against african-americans. joining us is erica alexander and whitney dow. they are the co-host of a new podcast reparations, the big payback. i love it. i love both of you guys. thank you so much for being here. erica, i'll start with you. the big payback. >> thank you. >> okay. why are you doing this -- why are you doing this podcast and what do you think it will change? >> because of covid-19, because of george floyd, because of aubrey, because of the insurrection, because of poverty. you know, i can go on. but i he tell you, it's a sign of the times that we're able to talk about reparation and doesn't sound like some sort of lunatic idea. reparations is a remedy for wrongs of done to african-americans. certainly there wil

john conyers, who headed the judiciary committee and fought against every civil rights injustice. so many leaders. as i indicated, shirley chisholm who ran for the presidency. barbara jordan who sat on the impeachment committee as a young member and said, we the people, and she denied any right of anyone to undermine the constitution. her voice was strong and powerful, glad to call her my mentor and my predecessor. and so i just want so i just want to give these words, congressman torres. i want to capture some words here on that insurrection. everyone knew the outcome of the 2020 presidential election long before january 6. 2021. we also knew the states were going through a lot of tra versioning, even they were sued, they still came back as each state leader said, no fraud,s the outcome. because of the transparent soif each state's election administration, that of the joint meeting of congress was simply confirm that joe biden had won more than a majority of the electoral vote along with winning the popular vote by bimore than seven million votes. we know this was a historic elec

let a conservative say something like that and he has brought up before a john conyers committee withat lahey wanting at you next. ok. many of you think i lose my places in these speeches. by the way, what time is it? we have to be out of here -- we have to be out of here by 6:00. all right. ok. depends on how you behave. what liberalism -- i really want you to believe this because it is the truth. this is a core. we want the most prosperous people. we want to lead the world. we want everybody to want to come here legally. we want the country to be so damn great and we cringe to watch capitalism be assaulted and our culture be reoriented to where the people that make it work are the enemy. that is not the united states of america. the people that make this country work, the people paying their mortgages, the people striving in this recession to not participate in it, they are not the enemy. they are the people who hire you. they are the people who are going to give you a raise. they're the people who need you to do work for them. [applause] president obama and take your pick of any de

former congressman conyers. it includes benny thompson, hakeem jeffries, al lawson, and don mceachin. and they are led by ruben a. shelton. former colleague lacy clay. omega psi phi fraternity founded in howard university. includes activist and referenced jessie jackson jr. and it includes james clyburn of south carolina, hank johnson of georgia, mr. mfume of maryland. and led by dr. david marion. delta sigma theta sorority founded in 1913 at howard university. they account as their sisters, the first black congresswoman shirley chisholm. and their membership in the house includes congresswoman marcia fudge, yvette clarke, joyce beatty, lucy mcgrath, and brenda lawrence. honorable president is beverly e. smith. phi delta sorority. they include john lewis, elijah cummings. leader of the brotherhood, sleeping car porters, philip randolph, and record setter jerry rice. and congressman espaillat. and their president is michael crystal. and notable sisters include annie malone, and zora herston. and have julia carson

this bill first came to congress by the late john conyers. the current version has 167 cosponsors.his bill is being assessed in committee. it has never received a floor vote in the house of representatives. but a committee actually had a conversation earlier this week about the bill. and during this conversation freshman democratic representative cori bush talked about her family's experiences with racism and why she sees a need for reparations. here is what she said. rep. bush: my story is a family -- is a story of survival. it is a story of the great migration, the mass migration of 6 million african-americans out of the south. when white farmers traveled to the west in search of land, a were granted 160 acres of free land through the homestead act. my family was denied the promise -- denied the promise of 40 acres and a mule in the aftermath of the civil war. my story is the story of a great-grandfather who served this country in world war i, and a grandfather who served this country in world war ii, only to be discarded as they suffered through the wounds of war. when white sol