Medford, Massachusetts is a heavily developed suburb on the outskirts of Boston. Two hundred years ago it was also home to the Commonwealth’s largest plantation — and a formerly enslaved woman who successfully petitioned the legislature for reparations. We look back at the history of efforts in Boston to explore reparations that continue into the 20th century and the trailblazing efforts of Sen. Bill Owens, the first Black member of the Massachusetts Senate.
What is owed? is a seven-part podcast hosted by GBH News political reporter Saraya Wintersmith. It seeks to understand what reparations might look like in one of the oldest cities in America.
This is Podcast Ep. 2: Bill Owens: Boston’s Reparations Trailblazer
Here’s Podcast Ep 1: When a City Tries to Heal Itself
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Do you have a story to share about reparations, or maybe a question for the producers of the podcast?
THIS was great. I learned quite a few things about the fight for reparations that I never knew before. Thank you SO MUCH. AND, I will continue to listen.
Zero dollars. I think the government. We workers. Have paid enough in perks and welfare over the years. If you didn’t take advantage of the leg up u have been given. That’s on you
What about the Irish? the very first people who were slaves that landed on what would become America and the Carribean at least a Decade before the first Black Slaves and the Worst period was under the Oliver Cromwell Era, after Slavery they faced Indentured Servitude and were the most lagging Ethnic Group in America. Boston didn't have Slavery or Jim Crow and always had Black People from the Colonial Days and were like anyone else , they were educated and many Affluent, But there has been Jim Crow since 1972 against Caucasians in Employment , Promotions, Retention, Contracts , Education and Housing.
In the 60's when I was a Kid Dorchester , Roxbury and Mattapan were nearly all Irish and Jewish , Mattapan has a huge Jewish Population, but by 1970 there was a nonstop migration of Blacks from the South, this occurred the same time the Nation was on the Decline and Boston was a dying City and didn't begin to recover until after 1979, but they make it sound like Boston was Selma of the 1920's, Blacks were not relegated to Slums , South Boston, East Boston, Charlestown and the North & former West end is where the Working Class and Poor lived.
Send your demands to the current African government, their ancestors enslaved and sold their own people into slavery, but no one ever mentions it when the demand for reparations comes up! And what about all the white people who fought to end slavery in Britain and America,are their descendants included in your demands? Not one person alive today should be forced to pay anything, non of us had any involvement in the slave trade!!!
280 views after 3 weeks clearly no one cares
Think of this they stood up for themselves back then and won then now in 2025 you have some morning to stand up for those back then and can't stand up for themselves
Remember when they challenged the system they were or have been slaves this is 20/25 you've never been a slave and I've never owned one
I just don't understand why reparations need to be paid by someone who has never owned a slave to a person related related to a slave