The California Reparations Task Force gave their first estimation on possible reparations for African-Americans in California on Thursday, coming to an estimated figure of $569 billion of reparations based on past housing discrimination practices in California.
The Task Force was first put together in late 2020 following Gov. Gavin Newsom signing AB 3121 to establish it. They are currently looking for what possible reparations, monetary or otherwise, to recommend to give to African-Americans living in California for past discriminatory practices and slavery, despite the latter not occurring in California following statehood in 1850. While initially encompassing all people of African descent, the group of those qualified to receive reparations was significantly narrowed in March when the task force voted to limit the possible reparations only to those who are an African American descendant of an enslaved person or free Black person living in the US prior to the end of the 19th century.
In June the Task Force’s first report came out, giving a recommendation of reparations, likely in the form of home buying assistance, free college tuition, and business grants. However, one of the many criticisms against the report was that not estimated monetary figure was attached, with many worried about how high it could be. On Thursday, first estimates on possible reparations were released.
According to the Task Force, qualified black residents, who make up slightly less than 7% of the state’s population, would be eligible to receive $223,200 each, or roughly $569 billion in total. The figure comes from the “housing wealth gap,” or discrimination policies in place between 1933 and 1977 that cost black residents an estimate $5,074 per year. If the figures stay the same in the final report and are approved, the reparations given out would be the most the country has seen since the 1860’s.
“We are looking at reparations on a scale that is the largest since Reconstruction,” noted UC Berkeley Professor and Task Force member Jovan Scott Lewis on Thursday.
$569 billion in possible reparations
Despite the release of an estimated figure on Thursday, reparations are still far from a done deal and remain unlikely to pass in California. The Task Force is due to release the final report, complete with final recommended figures, in June 2023. This would also include how payments would be given out, with housing grants, college tuition, and direct cash payments, amongst other types, being considered. Following that, the California Legislature would then decide on what, if anything, they could do.
Such action would likely come in the form of a bill, which would need approval from both houses and the Governor.. Even if it makes it past those, the bill would then likely have to contend with lawsuits and ballot measures that could weaken, or outright dismiss, any reparations at all.
“This Task Force is playing with fire and they know it,” explained legal adviser Richard Weaver to the Globe on Thursday. “I mean, $569 billion. Somehow, if that is passed through and the Governor signs it, there will be dozens of lawsuits filed before the ink is even dry. There will be groups ready to go with petitions. I can tell you right now, as the Task Force has been gathering evidence for reparations, many groups out there have been gathering evidence against it either totally, or just against any direct cash payments.”
“We’ve been wanting possible estimates on this for awhile, but no one really expected the Task Force to have the gall to say this amount. Both sides, for and against, were just kind of stunned with the estimated amount. It’s that ridiculous.”
The Task Force is due to give their final reparations recommendations by June of 2023, with the Task Force then dissolving in December 2023. A bill hoping to extend the Task Force into 2024 was vetoed by Governor Gavin Newsom earlier this year.
View Comments (57)
FknMadness!
California was never a slave state and no one alive today in the USA was a slave or owned a slave. The California Reparations Task Force is a farce and needs to be scraped along with their bogus reparation estimates.
So lets get this straight. California was never a slave state. In fact its gold help pay for the Union victory. For its first 90 years of statehood there was almost no black population in state. It was still less than 2% in 1940. The black population reached it peak in 1980 at less than 8% and forty years later its below 6% and has been the smallest "minority" in the state for decades and at the current rate of decline may be back to 1950 numbers in a decade or two. So the black population in the state has gone from a very small minority to a (probably) very small minority in about one lifetime.
Oh yeah, that "housing wealth gap". That was almost totally due (if it ever existed) to red lining that had little to do with city ordinances or development covenants so beloved by "progressive" authors and everything to do with the home mortgage rules created by New Deal laws like the Federal Home Loan Bank Act of 1932 and Fannie Mae set up in 1938. Funny that. The party of Jackson and Jefferson Davis and Woodrow Wilson was the same party that red line black home ownership for many decades in the state.
Would the "commission" like to discuss that awkward fact? Of course not.
So the "reparations". An attempt at a fraudulent shakedown. Pure and simple.
So, if the black population in California was so low back in the day, you don’t have to worry about too many people receiving reparations. Problem solved. The bottom line is whether the black California population was 1% or 50%, they were still horribly discriminated against, and that needs to be rectified.
I'm moving Rachel Dolezal and marrying her right now.
moving her to California...oops
Dude...uh...have a couple of beers and think this one over.
The United States has spent $27 trillion dollars (that is trillion with a "t") on the "War On Poverty" since 1965. Most of that $27 trillion with a "t" has gone to the Black community. I think that is more than enough for "slavery reparations". I don't want to sound like a racist or white supremacist, but has any of that hard earned TAX DOLLARS helped or had an effect on the Black community? I think not.
First of all, the majority of people on welfare are white, and always have been, so to attribute that supposed 27 trillion to Black people is a major stretch! Secondly, you can fight a war on poverty all you want, if you’re fighting incorrectly, you’re going to lose, and it’s of no use. We all know a welfare check is about $550 a month, with a few extra hundred dollars in food stamps. What the hell kind of poverty is that going to fight? How many businesses is someone going to build with that? Your very argument is in bad faith, because you know welfare does nothing more than provide someone a hand to mouth existence. Lastly, if you think a monthly $550 welfare check pays for someone being enslaved, beaten, and raped, then you’re far more racist than can be reasoned with.
Did you notice this is just for housing issues? I bet the greedy activists have a list of a 1,000 other things they also want billions for.
This is an attempt to financially enslave people who never owned slaves in perpetuity.
Truth!
Reparations for what?
(And that wasn't intended to be snide.)
I guess there is no consideration for the blood and treasure spilled during the civil war. An estimate of 630,000 lives were lost to end slavery in this country. California was a benefactor due to the sacrifice of the civil war soldiers.
This is a scam on the California taxpayer and a jumping off point for Governor Gruesome to run for president.
Absolutely disgusting and is another wedge to divide people!
If you thought the $30 billion in unemployment benefits that California gladly gave away to criminals, even those in jail, wait until you see the theft and corruption that will happen with reparations.