City of Asheville Community Reparations Commission

TITLE: City of Asheville Community Reparations Commission – Part One

AUTHOR: City of Asheville staff

SOURCE: City of Asheville website

PERMISSION to use not required

The Community Reparations Commission is working to make significant and sustainable advances in repairing the damage caused by systemic racism in Asheville and Buncombe County. The Commission seeks to enhance the quality of life for Black residents by dismantling historical barriers and promoting economic mobility and generational wealth.

In July 2020, the Asheville City Council passed a resolution supporting community reparations for Black Asheville, including "a process to develop short-, medium-, and long-term recommendations to specifically address the creation of generational wealth and to boost economic mobility and opportunity in the black community.” The Buncombe County Board of Commissioners passed a similar resolution in August 2020.

These resolutions were not just statements of solidarity, but a committed step towards reversing the legacy of discrimination in our community. It recognized that true healing requires more than words—it demands concrete actions aimed at dismantling the structural barriers that have long hindered the Black community’s access to wealth, health, and justice. As part of this commitment, the City Council voted in 2021 to appropriate $2.1 million for the initial reparations process, with additional funding to be considered as recommendations are provided by the Commission.

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