The California Reparations Task Force voted on Saturday to recommend a series of proposals that could see Black residents in the state receive billions of dollars in reparations. The proposals would provide eligible Black residents with varying payments for the state's discriminatory policies, including mass incarceration and over-policing, housing discrimination, and health care inequalities and environmental injustices. Economists on the panel have said that the reparations could cost the state more than $800 million.
Calculations provided ahead of the vote showed that black residents who have lived in California their whole life and are 71 or older could receive up to $1.2 million in payments. The proposed payments would include compensation for those who were victims of alleged over-policing from 1971 through 2020, while those who have suffered from health-related harms would receive $13,619 for each year spent living in California.
The task force noted that “badges and incidents” of slavery “remain embedded in the political, legal, health, financial, educational, cultural, environmental, social, and economic systems of the United States."
The plan now goes to the state legislature for approval which is due by July 1st. If approved by lawmakers it has potential to result into hundreds billions dollars paid as restitution payment to black Californians affected by systemic racism.
Rep Barbara Lee (D-CA) applauded this recommendation saying: "Paying reparations is a human right long overdue; people who suffered decades under systemic racism deserve redress."
As other states such as Texas and New York also establish their own task forces examining reparation issues this decision made by Californian Reparation Task force sets an example nationwide about addressing racial inequality at large scale level.
If approved it remains unclear how much money individuals will be compensated but according economists on the panel it could cost the state more than $800 million. As per proposed plan, those who are eligible to receive reparations will have different payment amount depending upon their experiences and sufferings under discriminatory policies.
The California Reparations Task Force's decision marks a significant step in addressing historical racial injustices faced by Black residents in the Golden State. The approval of this plan has potential to set precedent for other states across the nation grappling with similar issues.