Reparations Can't Wait. Building the Next 250 Years of America | #TheOtherSideOfChange

8.5.2026 #TheOtherSideOfChange: Reparations Can't Wait. Building the Next 250 Years of America

In this week's episode of The Other Side of Change, Jamira Burley and Brea Baker continue their examination of America's 250th anniversary by asking what the nation owes the descendants of enslaved people and all Black Americans harmed by the enduring legacy of slavery and white supremacy. They challenge the myths surrounding reparations, examine the racial wealth gap, and argue that accountability requires more than acknowledgment—it requires policies that repair generations of stolen labor, discrimination, displacement, and exclusion.

Later, Dreisen Heath of the Why We Can't Wait Reparations Network joins the show to explain what reparations actually look like in practice. Drawing on successful local initiatives, federal legislation, and decades of organizing, she outlines why reparations are a comprehensive process of repair—not a one-time payment—and why America's next chapter depends on confronting its history with truth, political will, and meaningful action.

Black Star Network Partner: Chapter

For free and unbiased Medicare help, dial (724) 2648281 to speak with my trusted partner, Chapter, or go to *Paid Partnership*

Chapter and its affiliates are not connected with or endorsed by any government entity or the federal Medicare program. Chapter Advisory, LLC represents Medicare Advantage HMO, PPO, and PFFS organizations and stand alone prescription drug plans that have a Medicare contract. Enrollment depends on the plan’s contract renewal. While we have a database of every Medicare plan nationwide and can help you to search among all plans, we have contracts with many but not all plans. As a result, we do not offer every plan available in your area. Currently we represent 50 organizations which offer 18,160 products nationwide. We search and recommend all plans, even those we don’t directly offer. You can contact a licensed Chapter agent to find out the number of products available in your specific area. Please contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-Medicare, or your local State Health Insurance Program (SHIP) to get information on all of your options.

Download the Black Star Network app at We're on iOS, AppleTV, Android, AndroidTV, Roku, FireTV, XBox and SamsungTV.

The #BlackStarNetwork is a news reporting platform covered under Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research.