France finally votes to strike the Code Noir from its books, its last slavery law
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM There is something disquieting about the idea that a law governing slavery could still exist on the books in 2026. Not as an enforced law. Not as a policy. Just sitting there, formally unrepealed, in the archive of French legal history. That was the status Read More...
Germany to return treasured artifacts to Namibia
Last year, Berlin’s Ethnological Museum agreed to return its collection of Benin Bronzes to their rightful home in Nigeria. In a similar act reflecting reconciliation with its colonial history, Germany will soon return Namibia's ancient treasures that it stole during its colonial Read More...
Germany to offer Holocaust reparations pensions to more survivors
World War Ⅱ ended 76 years ago, but survivors of the Holocaust continue to experience negative health consequences as a result of the devastating persecution of Jewish people in Europe. The Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany, also referred to as the Claims Conference, has Read More...
Chicago suburb slated to implement the country’s first reparations program
The concept of reparations has gained traction in recent years as a starting point for compensating for the racism and discrimination Black Americans have historically experienced and continue to face in society. Now, one Chicago suburb is on the verge of becoming the first in the country to pilot Read More...
Illinois directs marijuana sales revenue to areas harmed by war on drugs
One argument for the legalization of marijuana is the opportunity to fund critical community projects and organizations with the tax revenue from legal sales. The state of Illinois is doing just this and they are being very precise with where this money goes. The state is distributing $31.5 million Read More...