- Originally published on 4/26/2004 in the Detroit Free Press [here]
Wayne County seeks company disclosure of slavery ties
DETROIT (AP) -- Some companies seeking to do business with Wayne County
would have to disclose their historic ties to slavery under a proposal
that could come to a vote next week. The plan before the County
Commission would apply to companies bidding on contracts of $20,000 or
more. Wayne County has about 2 million residents and includes Detroit
and its southern and western suburbs.
Bidders would have to reveal whether they "invested in, or supported or
profited in some manner from the institution of slavery."
The ordinance would not require payment of reparations to the
descendants of slaves but might supply information helpful to
reparations suits.
Commissioners could vote on the ordinance May 6.
"This is very sensitive, but it's not going away," sponsoring
Commissioner Kwame Kenyatta told The Detroit News. "The argument you
hear is, "I wasn't around in slavery. My company wasn't around.' Well,
let's find out. Let's look at the wealth of the old-money companies."
The Detroit City Council considered but failed to enact a similar proposal earlier this year and in 2002.
In October 2002, Chicago became the first major American city to
require contractors to disclose profits they might have made from
slavery.
Kenyatta, a Detroit Democrat, said companies that disclose slave profits would not be at a disadvantage for contracts.
Commissioner Lyn Bankes said the ordinance could be hard to implement.
"I have no idea how this would even work," the Livonia Republican said.
"I want to be sympathetic, but we need to be realistic: This would
impact businesses in a tough economy."