A prominent New York civil rights organisation is pressing state lawmakers to introduce statewide reparations for Black residents, arguing that a historical debt is owed because of the state's historical ties to slavery and decades of subsequent systemic discrimination, including redlining. The push forms part of a wider effort by Democratic-led states, including Illinois and California, to advance reparations proposals, though similar plans elsewhere have recently run into political and practical setbacks.

The group's report highlights a stark racial wealth gap, stating that the median wealth of Black New Yorkers is nearly fifteen times lower than that of White residents. Campaigners point to this disparity, along with New York's historical role in the transatlantic slave trade and discriminatory housing practices, as justification for reparative measures, though the report does not appear to set out a specific compensation figure or implementation timeline.