Judge Mathis connects the moral case for reparations to economic realities, calls for both government and corporate accountability, and supports ongoing local efforts while pushing for much broader action.
Judge Mathis has become a vocal advocate for reparations for Black Americans, tying the demand directly to the ongoing legacy of slavery and systematic injustice. Mathis underscores the scale of the reparations debate by referencing economists’ calculations that estimate potential reparations costs between $13 trillion and $17 trillion, and he compares this to the U.S. defense budget about $1 trillion annually, suggesting that the resources exist if national priorities shift. Mathis insists, “It’s not about anything other than justice”.