Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a law earlier today (Wednesday) opening the door for the state to pay reparations of some kind to Black Californians, especially those who are descendants of slaves.
The law – as it stands now — does not commit to any specific kind or amount of payment. Instead, it calls for a nine-member task force that will be asked to make recommendations for how reparations could be provided, such as through compensation or restitution.
The state task force will be asked to compile a report on the effects of slavery and systemic discrimination — historic and current — on Black Californians and recommend appropriate ways to educate the public of those effects. That report is due no later than June 2022.
