Panel: Reparations Now!
Channel: San Francisco Public Library
Date: 2023-03-02

As the movement for African American reparations builds across the nation, we discuss the history of reparations movements and hear from local leaders on how they are working toward solutions to repair the harm done to our Black communities. 

Join us for a panel discussion with; Bakari Olatunji, the West Regional Representative for the Uhuru Movement and the Vice Chair of Uhuru Foods and Pies in Oakland; Brittni Chicuata, Director of Economic Rights at the San Francisco Human Rights Commission; Mychal Odom, professor at San Diego State University; the Reverend Arnold Townsend, a leading advocate for the preservation of black communities in San Francisco; and Ross Nyanga, an African-Centered Mental Health and Community worker. The discussion will be moderated by Dr. Tiffany Caesar, professor in Africana Studies at San Francisco State University, who will ground the talk in the history of the movement and the work of "Queen Mother" Audley Moore. This program is in partnership with the Africana Studies Department in the College of Ethnic Studies at San Francisco State University.

Read the Draft San Francisco Reparations Plan released December 2022.

Dr. Tiffany Caesar calls herself a “Black Woman’s Archivist” due to her ongoing research on the preservation of transnational black women leaders and engagement with public history: Queen Mother Moore, Margaret Walker, and Phyllis Ntantala.  Dr. Caesar was a Mellon scholar at the Margaret Walker Center and a Faculty Fellow for the Institute for Social Justice and Race Relation at Jackson State University. She is currently an Assistant Professor at San Francisco State University, Africana Studies Department. 

Bakari Olatunji is the West Regional Representative for the Uhuru Movement and the Vice Chair of Uhuru Foods and Pies in Oakland.  He is a long-time member and leader of the African Socialist Party. His legacy continues globally, as he fights for the rights and security of black people. 

Brittni Chicuata (she/her) serves as Director of Economic Rights at the San Francisco Human Rights Commission.  In this capacity, she focuses on policy and programs to build economic equity and uplifts economic opportunities to improve quality of life for the most marginalized in San Francisco. Brittni has worked as a policymaker over the last decade, co-writing and co-leading successful campaigns with tangible impact locally and nationally. Brittni is focused on helping realize the social and health needs of the most vulnerable communities and currently does that by expanding the work of government in making radical investments towards a more equitable society.  

Mychal Odom is a professor at San Diego State University. His scholarship and community work surrounds the upliftment of the black community through political organizing and education. He facilitates a podcast called Black Power Talks that profile contemporary social activists, scholars, and artists who are making a revolutionary impact in Africa and the African Diaspora.  He is a proud father and husband who centers his family as an important part of his life.

Reverend Arnold Townsend is a leading advocate for the preservation of black communities in San Francisco. He has served as a Government and Community Relations Consultant, President Board of Directors for the San Francisco Economic Opportunity Council (EOC), Commissioner of the San Francisco Elections Commission.  He was also a member of the Black Student Union (BSU) and participated in the 1968 Student strike in San Francisco State University that led to the creation of Africana Studies and the College of Ethnic Studies due to the leadership of the BSU. As an ordained minister, he has preached to many congregations on community upliftment while centering love and unity. 

Ross Nyanga is African-Centered Mental Health and Community worker who focuses on developing community spaces for Black Mental Wellness. Ross is the founder of Nyanga Consulting, LLC as well as Intersections of Being Life Coaching.  Ross has worked within the Black Bay Area community as a clinician, advocate, and community builder for over fifteen years.  Today, Ross partners with multiple Black owned and operated organizations committed to the improved wellness and health of the Black community in the Oakland-Bay Area region.