I am writing to urge New York Life Insurance Company to take Black descendants of enslaved
Africans as seriously as it does White descendants of Armenian genocide victims -- pay restitution
for helping to finance the enslavement of Africans in the United States!
I am outraged to learn that just three (3) days after New York Life forced Black plaintiffs out of
court for demanding justice for slavery, it decided to pay White Armenian plaintiffs $20 million to
settle a case with similar factors:
- Both cases involved insurance policies from the 19th century;
- Both involved descendants making claims on behalf of themselves and their ancestors; and
- Both cases resulted from some of the worst crimes committed against humans in world history
-- the enslavement of Africans, and the genocide of Armenians.
One critical difference in the cases is that New York Life played a direct role in the crime
against humanity inflicted upon Africans. Your early company helped finance the bondage of over
400 humans by writing slave life insurance policies. Records suggest that over 1/3 of New York
Life's start-up revenue was derived from this practice.
Today, New York Life is ranked #1 in the life insurance industry, while descendants of enslaved
Africans are still struggling to overcome racism, poverty, and discrimination in all areas of life -- the
legacies of slavery. New York Life owes a debt for its part in this suffering.
I urge you to not perpetuate legacies of slavery by serving justice to WHITES ONLY! Pay
restitution to descendants of enslaved Africans too. Justice for one, justice for all!
I look forward to your positive response to this communication.
Bill Werfelman
(212) 576-5385
Fax:
212-576-8145
Efax:
remote-printer.Mr_Sy_Sternberg_CEO@12125765385.iddd.tpc.int
Mr. Sy Sternberg
CEO and Chairman
New York Life Insurance Company
51 Madison Avenue, Suite 3200
New York, NY 10010
E-mail:
Sy Sternberg, CEO
c/o Bill Werfelman, VP Media Relations
william_werfelman@newyorklife.com
