Reparations
Trillion Dollar Theft: Plunder, Policy, Race and Reparations
A conversation with Areva Martin, Esq., Kevin Chavers, Esq., Dr. Julianne Malveaux , Dr. Thomas Craemer, and Judith Aidoo-Saltus, Esq.
What would America look like if trillions of dollars of stolen labor and property were returned to the families who helped build this country?
Black talent, labor and innovation were the secret to the success of many of our institutions. Imagine an America where those contributions were rightfully rewarded. This panel explores the different forms reparations could take and their transformative impact on an economy that has already reaped the benefits of Black labor. Our experts ask: What if compensating the laborers could propel our economy to even greater heights?
Areva Martin, Esq.
Award-Winning Civil Rights Attorney & Serial Entrepreneur
Areva Martin is an award-winning civil rights attorney, CNN legal commentator, serial entrepreneur, and leading voice on anti-Black violence and combating structural racism through anti-racist service delivery models. She is the Lead Counsel on several groundbreaking legal matters intended to restore stolen wealth valued in excess of 10 billion dollars to hundreds of Black and brown victims and descendants. Areva received her B.A. in Economics from the University of Chicago, and her J.D. from Harvard Law School.
Kevin G. Chavers
Impact Investor
Kevin Chavers is a member of the Boards of Directors of Freddie Mac, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, Chimera Investment Corporation, Toorak Capital Partners, numerous nonprofit organizations and the Board of Trustees of the Optimum Funds. Kevin has extensive experience in mortgage capital markets and housing finance policy in both the public and private sectors. He previously served as the President of Ginnie Mae in the Clinton Administration, Managing Director at BlackRock and Morgan Stanley and Vice President in the Mortgage Securities Department at Goldman Sachs & Co. Chavers is a graduate of Harvard Law School and earned a Bachelor’s in City Planning from the University of Virginia School of Architecture.
Dr. Thomas Craemer
Associate Professor University of Connecticut, School of Public Policy
An Associate Professor at the University of Connecticut School of Public Policy, Dr. Thomas Craemer is a renowned expert on estimating unpaid wages during chattel slavery in the United States, and resulting intergenerational losses to the living Black descendants of the enslaved. Recently, he served as part of an expert team advising the California Reparations Task Force. Dr. Craemer holds four degrees, receiving an M.A. and Ph.D. in Political Science from the Stony Brook University, as well as an M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Tuebingen in Germany.
Dr. Julianne Malveaux
President Emerita Bennett College
Dr. Julianne Malveaux is President Emerita of Bennett College for Women and a nationally recognized labor economist who has lectured widely on the Black-white wealth gap, women's rights, and public policy. A committed activist and civic leader, she has provided expert insight and incisive commentary as a television and radio host, author, writer, and syndicated columnist. Dr. Craemer received her M.A. in Economics from Boston College, and a Ph.D. in Economics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Judith Aidoo-Saltus, Esq.
CEO Caswell Capital Partners
Judith Aidoo-Saltus is Chief Executive Officer at Caswell Capital Partners Ghana Limited and at Urban Entertainment, Inc. A financial consultant, private investor, and media and entertainment entrepreneur, she previously founded an investment bank specializing in African capital markets and structured finance and served as an American delegate on the U.S. South Africa Business Development Committee.
Michael Martin (Moderator)
JD/MBA Candidate Columbia Business School