"United We Stand. Divided we fall." Together, let's revise and revive HR40 to unite, heal and reconcile America beginning with Native Americans and people of color who have experienced officially sanctioned racism in America. The United States can't possibly be a racist country, or can it? On July 4, 1776 American democracy was born with the promise of freedom; “All men are created equal and endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights…life, liberty and pursuit of happiness.” On June 15, 1780, Massachusetts adopted the first constitution that embraced “all men are born free and equal.” Mum Betts, an enslaved woman, filed a landmark lawsuit challenging her enslavement. On August 22, 1781, an all-white jury rendered a verdict that freed Mum Betts and awarded monetary damages for her enslavement. More slaves filed lawsuits, got freed, infuriating America’s ruling elites who were slave masters. Massachusetts outlawed slavery by judicial review. The slave masters, including James Madison, James Monroe, Thomas Jefferson and George Washington were furious and began to fear losing their wealth and property (slaves). On June 21, 1788, the Constitution of the United States became law of the land with the rectification of the state of New Hampshire. Article I, Section 2, of the U.S. The Constitution of 1787, in fact declared that for purposes of representation in Congress, enslaved blacks in a state would be counted as three-fifths of the number of white inhabitants of that state. The roots of America’s division trace back to March 4, 1790, when Congress, dominated by slave masters, introduced the unmitigated bill, HR40, the 1st Naturalization Act that codified racial discrimination by granting citizenship only to “white persons.” This act laid the foundation for centuries of systemic inequality, including the enslavement of African Americans, the dispossession of Native Americans, the marginalization of Puerto Ricans, inspiration of Nazi Germany, motivation of Apartheid South Africa, and the secret colonization of Black American citizens by the Government of the United States in Liberia. These injustices have created and sustained Liberia’s two-tiered citizenship and endemic corruption that persists to this day. Today, Liberia remains impoverished, reflecting the unfinished business of America’s racial reconciliation and justice. After the Naturalization Act of 1790 that restricted citizenship to only “white persons” Congress passed more racist laws that continue to have lasting impacts on Americans of color in 2024. Examples include The Indian Civilization Act of 1819 provided federal funding to private religious groups and missionaries to establish and operate boarding schools for Native American children who were removed from their families and often subjected to harsh discipline, physical and emotional abuse that led to deaths. These efforts were aimed at promoting assimilation to ease the way for westward expansion, as the US Government and European settlers sought to claim more Native land. The purpose of these schools was to “kill the Indian in him, and save the man,” a phrase commonly used to describe forced assimilation. The Act of 1819 secured funding of $100,000.00 from Congress, authorization for using the military to establish an American colony in West Africa for the settlement of Black American citizens. The Indian Removal Act of 1830 was signed by President Andrew Jackson, this act forced the relocation of tens of thousands of Native Americans from their ancestral lands in the Southeastern U.S. to territories west of the Mississippi River. This led to the infamous “Trail of Tears,” where many Native Americans died during forced marches. The Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 Required citizens to assist in the capture of escaped enslaved people and denied legal rights to those accused of being runaway slaves. The act intensified racial tensions, particularly in Northern states, and targeted Black individuals, often leading to the kidnapping of free Black people. The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 banned Chinese laborers from immigrating to the United States, marking the first time a federal law restricted immigration based on race or nationality. This law was expanded and extended multiple times. The Dawes Act of 1887 authorized the federal government to break up Native American tribal lands and distribute them to individual Native Americans, with the “surplus” sold to white settlers. This led to significant loss of tribal lands and disrupted Native cultures and communities. The Immigration Act of 1924 (Johnson-Reed Act) established national origins quotas, severely restricting immigration from Asia, Africa, and parts of Europe. The quotas were based on racial and ethnic hierarchies that favored Northern and Western Europeans. The Public Law 280 (1953) Gave certain states jurisdiction over Native American lands, diminishing the authority of tribal governments and increasing state control and weakened tribal sovereignty. The Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1986 introduced mandatory minimum sentences for drug offenses and set harsher penalties for crack cocaine (more commonly used in Black communities) than for powder cocaine (more common in white communities). This disparity fueled mass incarceration and disproportionately impacted Black and Latino communities. The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (Welfare Reform Act) limited public assistance benefits and disproportionately affected Black, Latino, and Native American communities by imposing strict requirements and lifetime limits on welfare benefits, leading to increased poverty among marginalized groups. These unmitigated laws reflect patterns of systemic racism throughout U.S. history, restricting rights and opportunities for American citizens of color and contributing to political polarization, division, economic and social inequality. These unmitigated laws are responsible for the massive visa refusal of Liberian visa applicants in comparison to other nationalities. Thirty five (35) years ago, Michigan Congressman John Conyers introduced HR40, which aimed to mitigate the ongoing harm of racism and slavery. The bill remains stuck in Congress while other bills that support funding for wars in Ukraine and Gaza easily pass into law. HR40 aims to establish a Commission to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African Americans Act This bill establishes the Commission to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African Americans. The commission shall examine slavery and discrimination in the colonies and the United States from 1619 to the present and recommend appropriate remedies. The commission shall identify (1) the role of the federal and state governments in supporting the institution of slavery, (2) forms of discrimination in the public and private sectors against freed slaves and their descendants, and (3) lingering negative effects of slavery on living African Americans and society