May 28th 2024.
After years of preparation, three bills focused on providing financial support for Black Californians have been approved by the state's Senate. These bills, proposed by Democratic State Senator Steven Bradford, aim to establish a reparations fund, compensate Black individuals for land taken through eminent domain for racially motivated reasons, and create the California American Freedmen Affairs Agency.
According to USA Today, Senator Bradford believes that the state holds a significant responsibility in addressing the injustices inflicted upon Black people through slavery, segregation, discrimination, and the marginalization of Black Californians. He stated, "This is not a handout or charity. It is what was promised, what is owed, and what is long overdue. If one can inherit generational wealth, one can also inherit generational debt. Reparations are a debt owed to the descendants of slavery."
The established fund will also provide support for future projects aimed at compensating Black individuals or descendants of enslaved persons who lived in California during the 19th century. Initially, the bill included a provision for funding from 6% of the state's budget reserve, but this has since been removed, leaving the source of funding unclear.
The same bill that created the Freedmen Affairs Agency also proposes the establishment of a Genealogy Office and an Office of Legal Affairs. Additionally, the bill for compensation in eminent domain cases grants the Office of Legal Affairs the authority to review, investigate, and determine the status of applications for land compensation.
As reported by California Divide, the Senate has also passed a bill, AB 3089, that officially apologizes for the state's role in slavery. This bill, authored by Assemblymember Reggie Jones-Sawyer, was drafted after his participation in a state task force assigned to examine the harm inflicted upon Black residents. Jones-Sawyer stated, "We were viewed as property in this state, and it was upheld by the State Supreme Court and other courts."
Assuming the three bills are approved by members of the Assembly, they will then be sent to Governor Gavin Newsom for final approval. Two other bills, SB 1007 and SB 1013, did not make it to the vote as they were not designated as priority bills by the California Black Caucus for this year's legislative session. Governor Newsom, a Democrat, has expressed support for non-monetary forms of reparation, but has also made budget cuts in areas such as education to address California's growing deficit.
Prior to the session, Senator Bradford praised some of the bills proposed by the Caucus, calling them a great start. However, he also stated to California Divide, "There is still much more work to be done in the coming years." Assemblymember Jones-Sawyer also voiced his belief in the importance of these bills, stating, "All of these bills are crucial. Together, they do not just make small strides, but have a significant impact on closing the wealth gap."
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