Reparations House Buying Campaign Conversation with Western Mass Showing Up for Racial Justice by Western Mass Showing Up for Racial Justice

The Western Mass Chapter of Showing Up for Racial Justice (WMSURJ) formed in 2014 and launched a reparations campaign in 2017. The purpose of this reparations campaign initially was to educate people about the concept of reparations and encourage them to engage in a regular practice of paying reparations. In 2019, WMSURJ began dedicating all reparations payments collected towards the purchase of a house for Stickii Quest and ShaeShae Quest, two Black, queer, trans freedom fighters who had also been some of the chapter’s accountability partners. The chapter raised $140K over two years and supported Stickii and ShaeShae in purchasing a home through a real estate agent.

As part of documenting this campaign, some Core organizers with WMSURJ sat down for two conversations, one with Stickii and ShaeShae, and one with current and former WMSURJ organizers, to talk about the house-buying campaign, housing security, class and racial justice, and reparations.

Please share this content with others and consider making a practice of paying reparations in your own life. Visit www.wmsurj.com to make one-time or recurring reparations payments to support black and indigenous groups in Western Mass.

Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ) is a national network of groups and individuals working for racial justice and to undermine white supremacy. Through community organizing, mobilizing, and education, SURJ moves white people to act as part of a multi-racial majority for justice with passion and accountability.