Black Californians could receive $365,000 each as part of the ‘reparations’ scheme

Black Californians could receive payments of $360,000 each as part of the state’s plan to dole out “reparations” to the descendants of slaves.

Secretary of State Shirley Weber told a meeting today that California must “admit its sins and change the narrative” to pave the way for initiatives similar to those already being considered in other states.

But there have been no details on how the $650 billion project will be financed amid concerns about California’s $22.5 million budget deficit that is expected to worsen due to a bloodbath of tech jobs in Silicon Valley, which generates taxes.

In 2020, California Governor Gavin Newsom created a nine-member ‘Reparations Task Force’ following national protests for racial justice in the wake of the murder of George Floyd.

Previous estimates suggested the payments could be as high as $220,000 each for the state’s 1.8 million black citizens.

But at a meeting on Friday, the Reparations Task Force indicated that the checks could actually amount to $350,000, as they seek to compensate black citizens for generations of discriminatory practices.

In California, white families are about six times as wealthy as their black counterparts.

Experts, politicians and members of the local community expressed their opinion during the first of the two days of the meeting.

But experts conceded that there were difficulties in defining the historical period to measure the damage experienced by black residents in a state where slavery was never legal.

One method being considered would use the state’s racial wealth gap to measure how much descendants of slaves had lost.

Using that model, a conservative estimate would say the state owes $636.7 billion.

Other strategies discussed included calculating damages related to specific injustices such as housing discrimination, mass incarceration, and harm to health.

The task force has until July 1 to publish its recommendations and describe exactly how the repairs will be carried out.

Members of the public were eager to welcome the initiative on Friday, as one said money was the only way to make up for the injustices felt by black people in America.

Members of the public were greeted with enthusiastic applause as they discussed the injustices facing black Americans.

The idea of ​​awarding reparations to black citizens has caught on across the United States, with cities like Boston, Massachusetts implementing similar task forces.

In 2020, California Governor Gavin Newsom created a nine-member ‘Reparations Task Force’ for the first time, following national protests for racial justice in the wake of the murder of George Floyd.

“There is only one thing that would stimulate this economy, and I need you to spread the word about what you heard, and that is capital, money, repairs,” he told the committee.

‘That will stimulate the economy of millions of blacks in California.

“There’s only one thing that would stop our kids breaking into these liquor stores and grocery stores, stealing junk food and stuff and that’s repairs.”

Another man said: ‘These are not repairs that we are taking. This is a California money atonement.

Meanwhile, Secretary of State Weber, who wrote the bill to create the task force, said: “If California can admit its sins and change the narrative, then there is a way forward for states and cities around the world.” country”.

The idea of ​​giving reparations to black citizens has become popular across the United States, with cities like Boston, Massachusetts, St Paul, Minnesota, and St Louis, Missouri, as well as California cities, San Francisco, and Los Angeles, among them. who have established similar working groups.

Evanston, Illinois, in 2021 became the first US city to provide reparations to its Black residents, including providing housing grants.

Most recently, politicians in Shelby County, Memphis, voted to allocate $5 million for a feasibility study that will “establish, develop, and implement repairs.”

The chair of the task force, Kamilah Moore, has stated that she plans to be as “radical as possible” when it comes to deciding who will receive reparations and how much.

California State Senator Steven Bradford (left) and Dr. Cheryl Grills (right) also appear on the task force

Cities like Boston, Massachusetts, St Paul, Minnesota, and St Louis, Missouri, as well as California cities, San Francisco, and Los Angeles, have also established task forces and panels to come up with their own repair plans.

The task force in California is comprised of: Chairwoman Kamilah Moore, Vice President Dr. Amos C. Brown, San Diego Councilmember Monica Montgomery Steppe, California State Senator Steven Bradford, Dr. Cheryl Grills, Lisa Holder, Donald K. Tamaki, Jovan Scott Lewis, and Reginald Jones Sawyer.

Moore has previously stated that he plans to be as “radical as possible” when it comes to deciding who will get reparations and how much.