The Reparations Committee Will Recommend A $223,200 Payout To All Descendants Of Slaves

Reparations Committee Recommends $223,200 Payout to Descendants of Slaves

California Governor Gavin Newsome is leading the largest reparations effort in U.S. history, worth over $559 billion, aimed at addressing “housing discrimination” faced by descendants of slaves in California. Under this plan, around 2.5 million Black residents would receive an estimated $223,200 each. This exceeds California’s total expenditures of $512.8 billion, which includes funding for schools, highways, police, universities, and hospitals.

Although Newsome is committed to providing reparations to Black individuals who faced disenanchisement throughout the 20th century, the process and distribution of payments remain uncertain. The government is deliberating on whether to distribute checks or find alternative methods.

To develop the reparations plan, Newsome’s team established a task force, which has until June 2023 to submit recommendations to the California Legislature. The task force is addressing issues such as the mass incarceration of Black people, unjust property seizures, devaluation of Black businesses, and healthcare disparities.

Task force member Jovan Scott Lewis, a professor at Berkeley, stated, “We are looking at reparations on a scale that is the largest since Reconstruction.”

One example of housing discrimination is the destruction of Russell City in California, which served as a safe haven for Black individuals escaping the Deep South. California bulldozed the city to make way for an industrial area, leaving thousands without adequate compensation for their land and properties. Former resident Monique Henderson-Ford received merely $2,200 for her home, significantly less than its original value.

Reparations remains a controversial topic, with some opposing the financial burden it poses. However, many states and cities are actively exploring their own reparations initiatives to acknowledge the contributions of Black Americans to the nation’s development.

What are your thoughts on other states implementing reparations for Black individuals, similar to California’s efforts?