Will California become the first state to pay Black people reparations?

[Ex Lurker]

Supporters of a federal effort to study reparations for Black Americans are closely watching an ongoing debate in California over how to address the wrongs of history and dismantle racist structures.

California is the first state in the nation to seriously consider some form of reparations for Black Americans. The California Reparations Task Force is made up of academics, lawyers, civil rights leaders, lawmakers and other experts convened by Gov. Gavin Newsom and is tasked with studying the state’s role in perpetuating the legacy of slavery. The task force is expected to recommend proposals to the Legislature by next year.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2022/02/02/california-could-pay-black-americans-reparations-after-2023/9293476002/?gnt-cfr=1

[JohnSJ]

1. If reparations are to be done it needs to be done at a national level, not a state level

[Ex Lurker]

2. Agree, but it has to start somewhere first nt

[TheRealNorth]

4. Some people have relatives that paid the ultimate price.....

For ending slavery... at Manassas, at Vicksburg, at Gettysburg etc. While the Federal Government may have some culpability for maintaining slavery, I don't see why States that never had slavery and that fought to end it should be paying reparations. And don't tell me about the slaves that they had while the state was a territory - the Federal Government was still responsible there.

[TheRealNorth]

3. Not sure why CA has to pay...

Wasn't it admitted as a Free State? Californians are not guilty for what was done in South Carolina or other slave states.

[lame54]

5. If Colorado doesn't beat us to it

[brooklynite]

6. Nope, nobody will.

People can "study" this endlessly for symbolic value. It'll be impossible to build consensus on who "gets" reparations, and who "pays" for them.

There MAY be expanded support services for minorities (nb: slavery notwithstanding, do you imagine California will do something for African-Americans and not Latinos?) or new affirmative action policies but there will be NO reparations payments.

[uponit7771]

7. Recently learned that 40 acres and a mule was somewhat in force 6 months after the end of the civil

... war and it was ended.

Blacks who got land and a means to work it benefitted greatly after the civil war.