 But when Conyers says Ray did it, he doesn't mean reparations at a federal level move forward. In fact, just the opposite happened. It stalled for decades. But Kenan Keller says Conyers expected this. He knew he was playing the long game. He was not afraid to take on an issue that had a very long legislative arc. That's right. Reparations Ray did it. Ray had also been playing the long game.