Okay family, pull up a chair because we need to talk. Washington State recently became the third state in America to fund a reparations study for African Americans, and it should be a moment to celebrate. The Legislature allocated $300,000 in seed funding, and the Washington Equity Now Alliance — a community-based organization doing the real work — raised another $450,000 to ensure this sacred study is done right. Governor Ferguson signed the law that spells out who’s qualified to lead the study: a PhD focused on reparations, peer-reviewed publications, expertise in calculating uncompensated slave labor, and lived experience. So far, so good, right? But here’s where it gets messy. The Department of Commerce is creating its own procurement rules, and its decisions are now preventing the community from securing qualified consultants for this work. Somehow, an “apparent successful bidder” has been named – a company called Truclusion that doesn’t appear to meet ANY of the legal requirements got through the procurement process — while the nation’s leading reparations scholar, an UCLA endowed chair and Howard University department head who literally wrote a BOOK on Reparations, was denied due process on a technicality when he asked for his legal right to a debriefing. How is the state this incompetent with something this important? Sisters Audrey and Melannie sit down with Attorney Jesse Wineberry Sr. — former five-term state legislator, first Black House Majority Whip in Washington’s history, and Chair of WENA — to break it down, shed light on the matter, and invite the community to take action. Somethin’ ought to be said. What say YOU? Links Washington Equity NOW Alliance Reparative Study for Washington Descendants – Washington State Department of Commerce Truclusion Website (Apparent Successful Bidder) Dr. Marcus Anthony Hunter Dr. Marcus Anthony Hunter – Achievements Marcus Anthony Hunter – UCLA Sociology Review of City-Level Reparations across the United States (.PDF) Dept. of Commerce WENA Community Partner Designation (REPARATIONS STUDY) (.PDF) WASHINGTON REPARATIONS STUDY BUDGET (.PDF) Calls to Action Support Dr. Marcus Anthony Hunter The Department of Commerce has denied Dr. Marcus Anthony Hunter his legal right to a debrief in accordance with Washington State Law RCW 39.26.170(2). He now must incur legal costs to challenge this injustice. It’s not about the “contract” anymore – it’s about the “principle” of the matter and the blatant disrespect of “Black Excellence.” Please support Dr. Hunter in this fight. This work is SACRED and COLLECTIVE. Donate here File a public records request Department of Commerce – Public Records Request Office of the Governor – Public Records Request CUT & PASTE THIS TEXT INTO YOUR EMAIL PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST Pursuant to RCW 42.56, I request all records in any format—including emails, texts, memos, notes, meeting minutes, and other documents—related to COMMERCE RFP 26-33740-001 (Charles Mitchell and George Washington Bush Reparations Study), managed by Michelle Griffin, Department of Commerce: 1. Bidder Evaluation and Selection All proposals submitted in response to the RFP Individual and composite scores for all bidders Identities of all scorers/selection committee members Evaluation criteria and scoring rubrics Deliberations and comparative analyses All records supporting the selection of Truclusion as the apparent successful bidder All communication transmitting Dr. Hunter’s proposal to the scoring committee 2. Deadline Extension All communications and justifications regarding the November 10, 2025 decision to extend the contractor announcement deadline from November 5-10 to November 18, 2025, including the stated need for “additional time for scoring” 3. Delegation of Authority Any documents authorizing the Department of Commerce to delegate review and selection duties for this RFP to the Commission on African American Affairs 4. Conflict of Interest Documentation All signed conflict of interest disclosure forms and/or waivers executed by selection committee members CONTACT: DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE commercewa@govqa.us Natasha Langer Public Disclosure Specialist Operations Division Office Services 360-725-3156 THE GOVERNOR’S OFFICE publicdisclosure@gov.wa.gov Tricia Smith Director of Public Information & Records 564-200-2106
