Truth and Reconciliation Project
Last updated on September 16, 2025
In 2022, the ACLU of Louisiana launched the Truth and Reconciliation Project, which creates a template for transferring economic power from the descendants of enslavers to those impacted by the oppressive vestiges of slavery across the American South.
A pilot program for reparative justice through guaranteed income
Launched in 2022, the Truth and Reconciliation Project is the ACLU of Louisiana’s bold initiative to address the long-standing economic harm of slavery and systemic racism through direct cash support. This project serves as a model for transferring wealth from the descendants of enslavers to Black individuals harmed by ongoing state violence and inequality.
The Partnership
This effort was made possible through the partnership of Buck and Gracie Close—descendants of enslavers in Fort Mill, South Carolina—who committed inherited wealth to fund direct economic reparations. The project was implemented in collaboration with the Fund for Guaranteed Income.
A First-of-Its-Kind Program
The Guaranteed Monthly Income (GMI) Program is the first in the country to provide recurring cash assistance to families impacted by police violence.
- 12 participants in Louisiana
- $1,000/month for 12 months
- No taxpayer dollars or traditional philanthropy—this model is driven by personal reparations
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Wraparound services include:
- Mental health counseling
- Financial planning
- Expungement and legal support
Why This Matters
“We are challenging the systems that criminalize poverty and silence communities impacted by police violence. This project is a step toward truth, repair, and justice.”
— ACLU of Louisiana
This project doesn’t just offer material support—it invites a national conversation about how to reckon with the economic legacy of slavery through action, not words.
While the pilot program has concluded, the Truth and Reconciliation Project serves as a model for reparative justice that can be replicated and expanded across the South and beyond. The ACLU of Louisiana is committed to continuing its work to dismantle systems of oppression and deliver justice through transformative economic tools.
