LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles City Council (search) has ordered the drafting of an ordinance that would require every company doing business with the city to report whether it earned profits from slavery.
The proposed ordinance would not require reparations (search) or bar companies from city contracts, but supporters said it would be an important symbol for descendants of American slaves.
"It does us no harm but, in fact, it reclaims the history ... that has been lost," said Councilman Nate Holden, who is black.
He compared it to past votes by the council restricting companies doing business with South Africa when that country was under a system of apartheid (search).
"We're not here today to ask companies to go out of business," Holden said. "We're here to say let us know who you are."
The Los Angeles proposal is similar to an ordinance approved last fall in Chicago. It would require companies doing business with the city to sign affidavits stating whether they or their predecessors ever profited from slavery. They also would have to disclose any records of such profits.
Supporters said they hoped it would encourage companies that profited from slavery to voluntarily contribute money to benefit their descendants, such as creating scholarships for black students or providing funds for inner-city communities.
The council voted 10-0 Friday to ask the city attorney to draft the ordinance. It could have the completed measure for a vote within a week.
Mayor James Hahn would sign it, mayoral spokeswoman Julie Wong said.
The state passed a law three years ago requiring insurance companies to disclose whether they sold policies on slaves. Since then, eight companies have reported such policies and provided the names of 614 insured slaves.
The proposed ordinance would not require reparations (search) or bar companies from city contracts, but supporters said it would be an important symbol for descendants of American slaves.
"It does us no harm but, in fact, it reclaims the history ... that has been lost," said Councilman Nate Holden, who is black.
He compared it to past votes by the council restricting companies doing business with South Africa when that country was under a system of apartheid (search).
"We're not here today to ask companies to go out of business," Holden said. "We're here to say let us know who you are."
The Los Angeles proposal is similar to an ordinance approved last fall in Chicago. It would require companies doing business with the city to sign affidavits stating whether they or their predecessors ever profited from slavery. They also would have to disclose any records of such profits.
Supporters said they hoped it would encourage companies that profited from slavery to voluntarily contribute money to benefit their descendants, such as creating scholarships for black students or providing funds for inner-city communities.
The council voted 10-0 Friday to ask the city attorney to draft the ordinance. It could have the completed measure for a vote within a week.
Mayor James Hahn would sign it, mayoral spokeswoman Julie Wong said.
The state passed a law three years ago requiring insurance companies to disclose whether they sold policies on slaves. Since then, eight companies have reported such policies and provided the names of 614 insured slaves.
