To: [Local Government Officials, State Representatives, U.S. Congress]

Our Urban Studies class calls for restitution and economic redress for the historic Black Bottom neighborhood of Philadelphia, a thriving Black community unjustly destroyed by government-led urban renewal in the mid-20th century. This displacement stripped residents of generational wealth and opportunities, erasing a vibrant hub of Black entrepreneurship and culture. We demand financial compensation for descendants, reinvestment in historically Black neighborhoods, historical recognition through public memorials and education, and equitable access to land and housing. The destruction of Black Bottom was a deliberate act of racial and economic disenfranchisement, and we urge immediate government action to provide tangible restitution. The time for justice is now.