Boston, Massachusetts - Bostonians spoke out at the city's first-ever public hearing on reparations for Black Americans on Tuesday.

The Boston City Council’s Committee on Civil Rights held the hearing as they decide whether to create a study commission on Black reparations, the Associated Press reported.

Black community members, academics, and activists joined the call and shared their testimonies.

Many spoke to current racial disparities that stem from past discriminatory policies. The big differences in wealth, homeownership, and educational outcomes between Black and white Bostonians were just some of those mentioned in the testimonies.

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To tackle these ongoing issues, supporters said the city needs to explore direct financial payments and acknowledgement of past wrongs, as well as other services offered to victims and their descendants.

Ultimately, Kevin Peterson, founder of the New Democracy Coalition, urged the city council to let Black Bostonians be at the helm of the reparations study process.

"Any committee must be Black-led and Black-controlled. Let Black people lead on the issue," he said.

"We have an opportunity here to establish a commission that will help us bridge this gap of acknowledgement, leading to reconciliation," added Dr. Jemadari Kamara, a professor of Africana Studies at the University of Massachusetts Boston.

Also in Massachusetts, the city of Amherst has created a fund for reparations efforts. It's still determining how exactly those resources will be distributed.