A newly released report from the South Bend Reparatory Justice Commission outlines decades of racial discrimination against Black residents and calls for a series of reforms and reparative actions.

The 138-page report, filed with the city earlier this month, examines the history of discrimination in housing, education, employment, healthcare, and public accommodations in South Bend.

The commission says discriminatory policies and practices dating back more than a century created lasting economic and social disparities for Black residents. The report highlights racially restrictive housing covenants, redlining, segregated schools, unequal job opportunities, and the effects of urban renewal projects that displaced Black families.

The report also discusses ongoing disparities in education and healthcare, including concerns over discipline rates for Black students, housing inequality, and environmental issues in some neighborhoods.

The commission recommends several actions, including a formal apology from the City of South Bend for past discrimination, preserving the report as a permanent public record, and creating a permanent reparatory justice committee to monitor future progress.

Another recommendation calls for the creation of a community fund supported by donations from businesses, foundations, and individuals to help address harms identified in the report.

The South Bend Common Council created the commission in 2023 to study the impacts of racial inequities on Black residents and develop recommendations for reparatory justice.