Global Reparations Agenda for Afrodescendants: An Overview of Recent Developments and the Way Forward

The push for reparations for Africans and people of African descent extends back generations, yet has gained substantial momentum since 2020 — a global inflection point that exemplified the polycrises facing the planet, including the global COVID-19 pandemic, worldwide uprisings against state and police violence in response to the murder of George Floyd in the United States, stark income inequality, and multiple natural disasters. Against this backdrop, reparations advocacy became more visible and gained traction. This article explores the enabling factors that have contributed to this heightened visibility and the dynamics that have created a more global reparations agenda. It also provides a roadmap with emergent areas of caution and guidance for reparations advocates as they advance the work.