Bush Foundation to Distribute $100 Million to Blacks, Native Americans for Past Injustices

The Bush Foundation is allocating $100 million to close the wealth gap between whites and Blacks and Native Americans — a move with similarities to race-based reparations.

The St. Paul-based foundation has set up trust funds for Black and Native Americans in Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and 23 Native nations.

“This is not reparations, but it’s in the spirit of reparations,” said Grantmaking Director Jackie Statum Allen.

The money will be paid to individuals for developing their wealth — in such ways as financing a college education, making a down payment on a house, or providing seed money to start a business.

“Our purpose is to make our region better for everyone, and we believe that addressing racial wealth gaps is one of the most important things we can do for our region,” she said.

The Foundation’s news release says it is seeking to “address racial wealth gaps that reflect the impacts of the taking of land, slavery, and other race-based policies throughout U.S. history.”

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{snip} In addition, Foundation will spend $50 million over the next five years to address “racial wealth gaps within and across cultural communities.”

Allen explained that while the $100 million will help build the wealth of individuals, the $50 million will address systemic issues and be mostly given to groups, not individuals.

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