Calif. ponders reparations for Black residents

California has become the first state to adopt a law that requires a study of how the state could provide reparations to Black residents and the descendants of slaves.

Gov. Gavin Newsom signed the law Wednesday that creates a nine-member task force dedicated to coming up with recommendations for what form reparations might take and who would be eligible for them. The panel must have its first meeting no later than June 1 and submit recommendations to the state Legislature a year later.

“As a nation, we can only truly thrive when every one of us has the opportunity to thrive,” Newsom said. “Our painful history of slavery has evolved into structural racism and bias built into and permeating throughout our democratic and economic institutions.”

Reparations could come in the form of cash payments, student loan forgiveness, public works projects or job training. The law requires the task force give special consideration for Black people who are descendants of slaves.

The law was championed by Assemblywoman Shirley Weber, a Democrat and chair of California’s Legislative Black Caucus. Weber said Wednesday that while many are waiting for federal guidance on reparations, California has a responsibility to lead the way.

“California has come to terms with many of its issues, but it has yet to come to terms with its role in slavery,” she said. “After 400 years, we still have that impact. If we can do it others can do it also,” she said.

Although California entered the Union in 1850 as a free state, owners were allowed to bring their enslaved people into the state, and state law required runaway slaves be arrested and returned to their owners.

Weber emphasized that this bill was written long before the death of George Floyd.