Darrick Hamilton Appointed to the New York City Racial Justice Commission

The first of its kind in the country, the new commission will examine structural racism in every aspect of the city

Darrick Hamilton, University Professor, the Henry Cohen Professor of Economics and Urban Policy, and the founding director of the Institute on Race and Political Economy

March 23, 2021, New York -- Darrick Hamilton, University Professor, the Henry Cohen Professor of Economics and Urban Policy, and the founding director of the Institute on Race and Political Economy at The New School, was named to New York City’s first Racial Justice Commission. The first commission of its kind in the United States, it is tasked with targeting and dismantling structural and institutional racism across New York City.

“Our mission is to root out systemic racism across New York City. The Racial Justice Commission has the power to put forth permanent, transformative ideas for our government and our city. This moment demands nothing less,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio in a press release. “This undertaking is unprecedented but I believe this extraordinary group of leaders, visionaries, and public servants have the ability to put forth a tangible vision to continue dismantling and obliterating centuries of racial oppression.”

As one of the country’s leading economists examining racial disparity, Hamilton’s work confronts the pressing issues of our time and develops pathways and policies that break down hierarchy and help move society towards greater equity, inclusion, and civic participation. He has been a vocal proponent of policy solutions related to economic, health and education outcomes, and continues to play an influential role in shaping economic policy.

“This city, and this nation, are faced with an unprecedented opportunity to think big – not just about policy changes at the margins of civic life, but about the way government is structured entirely,” said Hamilton. “I’m proud to join this commission and lend my expertise to this ambitious effort to root out structural racism and steer us towards justice.”

The Commission is primarily tasked with reviewing the City’s Charter and delivering proposals for charter revisions. It is expected to focus on significant structural changes to the powers, structures, and processes of New York City government that underlie sources of inequity, rather than narrow procedural changes or superficial policy fixes.

The additional members of the Racial Justice Commission include:

- Chair: Jennifer Jones Austin, CEO, Executive Director, FPWA
- Vice Chair: Henry Garrido, Executive Director, DC 37
- Executive Director: Anusha Venkataraman, Chief Service Officer of NYC
- Phil Thompson, Deputy Mayor
- K. Bain, Co-Founder, Executive Director, Community Capacity Development
- Ana Bermudez, Commissioner, Department of Probation
- Rev. Fred Davie, Executive Vice President, Union Theological Seminary
- Daniel Favors, Interim Executive Director, Center for Law and Social Justice, Medgar Evers College
- Chris Kui, former Executive Director, Asian Americans for Equality

Founded in 1919, The New School was established to advance academic freedom, tolerance, and experimentation. A century later, The New School remains at the forefront of innovation in higher education, inspiring more than 10,000 undergraduate and graduate students to challenge the status quo in design and the social sciences, liberal arts, management, the arts, and media. The university welcomes thousands of adult learners annually for continuing education courses and public programs that encourage open discourse and social engagement. Through our online learning portals, research institutes, and international partnerships, The New School maintains a global presence.

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