Willie Wilson: The Black church is left out of a key community rebuilding board in Illinois

Chicago Tribune

a day ago

The idea of having a reliable revenue stream from cannabis sales dedicated in part to rebuilding communities harmed by economic disinvestment, violence and the war on drugs is good. However, I am concerned the application of funding may be missing the mark.
The Black church has no influence in the Restore, Reinvest and Renew grant program (R3) created under the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act and administered by the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority (ICJIA). The 2019 law requires 25% of all cannabis revenue be used to support communities affected by economic disinvestment, violence and the damage caused by the war on drugs. As written, the law designated Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton as the chair of the board and empowered her to appoint several of the 40 board seats for the R3 program. The ICJIA has awarded more than $244 million in R3 program grants.
The question must be asked — how can you talk about rebuilding the Black community without the Black church at the table? It is akin to passing legislation affecting children without having key stakeholders like parents and children involved. Also, should rebuilding Black communities be confined to those who have been involved with the criminal justice system?
What about Ms. Velma Lewis, a 74-year-old African American woman who lost her Maywood home to a property tax sale because she made the decision to put a new roof on her house in lieu of paying her property taxes? Ms. Lewis' story is heartbreaking — her home had been paid off — she lost her Cook County home and all the equity to a tax buyer as reported by Injustice Watch. I wonder if the Black church could have helped save her home.
The Black church is the backbone of the African American community. In addition to its spiritual function, churches provide social services including education, employment, political mobilization and fights for civil rights. The Black church was the catalyst for Civil Rights Movement. In light of deep cuts to federal and state programs, as well as rising utility and food costs, the Black church will be called upon to fill the gap in services. Additionally, churches must oppose efforts to rewrite the history of African Americans in the U.S. and the dismantling of diversity, equity and inclusion. There is no entity closer to the African American community than the Black church.
It is an insult that Black church leaders are not at the table to make recommendations on what is needed to rebuild and stabilize the African American community. How can African American legislative leaders allow the Black church to be excluded? The law as established did not provide a seat for Black church representation.
There are nine vacant R3 board seats appointed by the lieutenant governor. Interestingly, no Black church leaders are on the R3 board. The stated goals of the R3 program are to address disparities related to violence, unemployment, educational inequality and drug-related addiction, which are only becoming wider.
Without question, the Black community was significantly harmed by the war on drugs. One provision of the 1994 Crime Bill was especially onerous and racially charged. The 100-1 sentencing disparity between crack cocaine and cocaine led to immeasurable harm on Black, brown and low-income communities.
The damage continues in other forms of destabilizing efforts. Injustice Watch also found that Illinois is the last state to unlawfully strip wealth from homeowners facing property tax foreclosure. The report noted that since 2019 more than 1,000 owner-occupied homes in Cook County, like Lewis' property, were taken through foreclosure. The homes taken were concentrated in predominantly Black communities like Roseland, Englewood and Chicago Heights. Also, more than half of the homes were taken following an initial property tax debt of $1,600 or less. The Black church if properly resourced and unified could transform our communities.
Widening racial gaps in unemployment, wealth, education, housing and other areas should cause leaders to reexamine the effectiveness of the R3 program and whether it should be expanded. The R3 grants fund programs in five areas:
The Black church is the soil that helped grow phenomenal Black leaders. Any serious proposals to rebuild and stabilize the African American community must include the Black church at the table.
The following are suggestions to consider that will empower the Black church and African American communities:
The government working in concert with the Black church can help rebuild African American communities.
I write this commentary to make those comfortable with excluding Black church leaders from directing resources for community rebuilding uncomfortable.
Willie Wilson is a business owner, philanthropist and former mayoral candidate.