The California reparations panel recently recommended payments of up to $1.2 million to every Black resident.
The recommendation is based on historical discrimination, such as redlining and over-policing, and aims to compensate Black residents for their years in California while facing these injustices. For instance, Black residents affected by redlining could receive up to $148,099 each year they lived in California from the early 1930s to the late 1970s.
In contrast, those impacted by over-policing and mass incarceration could receive up to $115,260 each year they lived in California between 1970 and 2020. The total payments could add up to $1.2 million for a Black Californian who is 71 years old and has lived in California their entire life.
The payments recommended by the California reparations panel aim to compensate Black residents for historical discrimination that they have faced in California.
For example, redlining is a discriminatory practice that prevents Black people from obtaining loans or mortgages to buy homes in specific neighborhoods. Black residents affected by redlining in California would receive compensation of $3,366 for each year they lived in the affected area from the early 1930s to the late 1970s, which could amount to up to $148,099. Similarly, Black residents who were over-policed and subjected to mass incarceration could receive compensation of roughly $2,352 for each year they lived in California between 1970 and 2020, which could amount to $115,260.
The idea behind these payments is to acknowledge and address the harm that Black people have faced due to past discriminatory policies and practices. By providing compensation, it is hoped that the Black community can be given justice for the harm they have experienced.
While the panel's recommendation is not legally binding, it is significant as it highlights the ongoing conversation around reparations for Black Americans.
Some Black residents at the panel demanded larger payments, arguing that they deserve compensation equal to the famous promise of "40 acres and a mule" made to former slaves. Despite some disagreements at the meeting, many attendees spoke in support of reparations. (watch the video over here: )
The panel's recommendation also highlighted California's history of allowing the enforcement of the Fugitive Slave Act, which called for the capture and return of runaway slaves, even after emancipation. Overall, the panel's recommendation raises essential questions about historical injustices and their impact on present-day society.
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