Reparations in America: Lineage, Justice, and the Path Forward | Chad Brown & Kellie Farrish (2-22-2026)

(Originally aired February 22, 2026)

Reparations for the descendants of American slavery remains one of the most important and debated issues in the country today. What would real reparative justice look like — and how do we prove lineage and historical harm?

On this episode of Empire Talks Back, host Wallace Allen leads a powerful conversation on the history, politics, and future of reparations in America. Joining the discussion: Chad Brown, a leading reparations advocate in California and National Spokesperson for the Lineage Equity and Advancement Project (LEAP), shares insights on the growing movement for lineage-based reparations for Foundational Black Americans. Brown is also a board member of the Coalition for a Just and Equitable California and host of the YouTube podcast Politics In Black, where he explores Black American politics, culture, and policy. Also joining the conversation is Kellie Farrish, a professional genealogist whose work focuses on uncovering family histories tied to the system of American chattel slavery. Through genealogy, Farrish helps individuals trace their ancestral roots — whether descending from the enslaved or enslavers — to confront history, acknowledge truth, and begin the process of healing generational wounds.

Together they discuss:

• What reparations actually mean in policy terms
• Why lineage documentation matters
• The role of genealogy in uncovering truth and justice
• California’s reparations movement and what it signals for the nation
• How Americans can engage thoughtfully in the conversation

Empire Talks Back continues its tradition of civic dialogue by bringing together voices committed to truth, history, and solutions.


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About the Show
Empire Talks Back is hosted by veteran broadcaster Wallace Allen and explores Black culture, history, media, and community leadership through long-form conversation.

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