“I have a problem with the firm because people within it are not from Seattle or this state… This work needs expertise in government policy, local history and community engagement to connect with those impacted the most.” — Eddie Rye
A state‑funded study on reparations for the descendants of enslaved Africans in Washington is drawing criticism after the Washington State Department of Commerce named a consulting firm as the Apparent Successful Bidder, prompting some Black community leaders to question the firm’s qualifications, its ties to the region, and the process utilized by the state to make good on its promise to conduct the study.
Just before the Thanksgiving holiday, Commerce announced the provisional selection of Truclusion, a Dupont-based consulting firm, to conduct the Charles Mitchell and George Washington Bush Study on Reparative Action. The 2025 legislation authorizing the study calls for a comprehensive examination of historical injustices and their lasting impact on descendants of enslaved Africans living in Washington. The study will examine how state laws and systems affected descendants in economics, education and criminal justice and propose reparative measures. Key deliverables could include proposals for cash payments, policy reforms, state-level investments, and recommendations for reforming harmful laws — all backed by cost‑benefit analyses. The preliminary report is due June 2026 and a final report is expected by June 2027…