Img source: ca.news.yahoo.com
June 28, 2024 Story by: Editor
Following last weekend’s announcement, Black advocates have reached a consensus: California’s plan to allocate $12 million for reparations in the upcoming year is a positive step, but it falls short of what is necessary.
“That it is a lowball amount, especially given the amount of harm that was done to Black people in this state and for the amount of time that it was done,” said Kavon Ward, co-founder of Where Is My Land, a group advocating for Black individuals reclaiming lost and stolen land.
This $12 million funding is part of the budget agreement for the 2024-25 fiscal year between Governor Gavin Newsom and Democratic leaders.
The funds will support the implementation of reparations bills backed by the California Legislative Black Caucus. This year, the caucus introduced a pioneering reparations package with bills addressing education, criminal justice, business, and health care. Lawmakers face an August 31 deadline to pass the legislation to Newsom.
James Woodson, executive director of the California Black Power Network, emphasized the significance of this funding given the state’s budget challenges, including a $47 billion shortfall.
Democratic Assemblywoman Lori Wilson, chair of the Black Caucus, hailed the funding as a “win” following the budget agreement announcement.
“In these types of environments, Black folks tend to get overlooked,” Woodson said. “But we were glad to see that there was this down payment made toward reparations.”
Woodson also highlighted that the funding should mark the beginning of “many rounds of investment to repair harm.”
“Our position has always been that the harm caused was not done overnight, and so the solutions and the investments won’t happen overnight as well,” he said.
Efforts toward reparations have gained traction in recent years, especially in California. The state established the first reparations task force in the nation in 2021. Last year, the task force approved a multi-year study with over 100 recommendations on how to address centuries of racism against Black people in California.
Despite these steps, Ward insists that California has more work to do and must “do better.”
None of the caucus’ endorsed reparations bills include direct cash payments to descendants of enslaved people. Ward believes $12 million should be allocated to just one individual.
“When it comes to them actually putting their money where their mouth is, I think that they’re falling short,” she said. Source: Aol.
