Olympia residents who are descendants of enslaved African people could qualify for cash payments from the city, but Mayor Dontae Payne said not to expect checks anytime soon.
”We're planting seeds,” said Payne, “This is long-term work that I see, and it's not all going to get done in my time as mayor here.”
Payne is Olympia’s first Black mayor.
He was part of a 2024 resolution calling for a Pierce County consulting firm, Truclusion, to study potential reparations for citizens with ties to slavery. The city spent $44,840 on the research.
Next month, Truclusion staff will present the council the study’s findings which listed dozens of potential policies, laws, and measures meant to improve the lives of community members of color.
The findings include cash payments, assistance with down payments for housing, free childcare for Black families, grants for Black-owned businesses, and renaming city landmarks.
Payne hopes the study could promote conversations and inspire other communities to look at establishing reparations for slavery.
”It's a conversation that Black Americans have been having for centuries. At this point, it all started with 40 acres and a mule that was never provided to help build that intergenerational wealth for black Americans,” said Payne.
He said the city is not expected to take action on any of the study’s results this year.
Donnie Whetstone, owner of Whetstone Fitness in west Olympia, would like the city to offer financial support to Black business owners like him.
Whetstone said the move would help others.
”Initially it would be probably a benefit to me, because, you know, being a Black-owned business. But the thing about is this, you know, I give to the entire community,” said Whetstone.
