Why We Believe in Starting Now with Reparations

At Fifth Element, we often say that justice is not abstract — it is lived through repair. Reparations are not a distant policy debate or a symbolic gesture. They are a structural commitment to redistribute resources and acknowledge the harms that have shaped our communities.

We believe the time to act is now. Waiting for perfect conditions or national consensus only delays repair and perpetuates inequity. Communities harmed by systemic racism, colonization, and climate collapse are living with the consequences every day. Starting now means acknowledging that urgency and refusing to let indecision become complicity.

It also means credibility. If we say we believe in justice, then our revenue models, pricing structures, and partnerships must reflect that belief. Putting our money where our mouth is builds trust with our community and shows that our commitments are real. Even modest allocations — a percentage of monthly revenue, subsidized access for marginalized participants, or direct partnerships with Indigenous and Black‑led organizations — begin to shift the balance. Waiting for a “perfect” plan risks doing nothing at all.

There is also the matter of leadership. When one business embeds reparations structurally, it sets an example for others. Starting now helps normalize repair as part of business design, not an optional add‑on. It shows that justice can be operational, proportionate, and transparent.

At Fifth Element, we embed reparations into our practice by redirecting a fixed percentage of revenue to Indigenous, Black, frontline, and climate‑impacted communities. We offer sliding‑scale pricing so higher‑income members subsidize access for marginalized participants. And we partner directly with leaders from impacted communities to define what repair looks like.

We also draw inspiration from William “Sandy” Darity’s TED Talk, “A Blueprint for Reparations in the US.” Darity makes clear that reparations are not symbolic gestures but structural repair for centuries of harm. He outlines a concrete plan for closing the racial wealth gap through direct payments and federal level responsibility, reminding us that justice must be operational, not aspirational. For Fifth Element, his blueprint affirms why we embed reparations into our business design now, rather than waiting for national consensus. It situates our commitments within a broader movement that insists repair is overdue and that businesses, alongside governments, have a role to play in redistributing resources and building resilience.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hv88_R-XDDw

This is not charity. It is accountability. And it is how we ensure that our values are not just spoken but lived. We invite our community — clients, partners, and peers — to join us in starting now. Reparations are not a future ideal; they are a present necessity. By embedding repair into our structures today, we show support for the measure, we honor the communities most impacted, and we build a business ecosystem rooted in justice and resilience.