The Multi-Faith ACTION Coalition’s faith-rooted mission is to advocate for policy changes that would reduce or eliminate sources of poverty in California. Racial injustice is one of those sources, so we have been particularly supportive of and attentive to the work of the Reparations Task Force. This article is the third in a series about the Reparations Task Force and covers its research process and timeline.
Following is a summary of the process by which the California Reparations Task Force conducted its research and developed its recommendations, along with a timeline of critical events.
Establishment and Mandate:
- September 30, 2020: California Governor Gavin Newsom signs Assembly Bill 3121 (AB 3121) into law, establishing the Task Force to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African Americans. The legislation mandates the Task Force to:
- Investigate and document the history of slavery and its lasting effects on African Americans in California.
- Recommend appropriate educational methods for informing the public about the Task Force’s findings.
- Propose remedies to address the harms identified, considering international standards of reparations.
Research and Evidence Gathering:
- Public Hearings and Testimonies: The Task Force held 16 public meetings, which provided a platform for public comments, expert testimonies, and personal accounts from individuals impacted by the legacy of slavery and discrimination. These hearings lasted over 48 hours and featured testimonies from 133 witnesses.
- Community Engagement: Recognizing the importance of community perspectives, the Task Force collaborated with the Ralph J. Bunche Center at UCLA to conduct community listening sessions, gather oral histories and personal testimonies, and administer statewide surveys. These efforts aimed to understand the diverse experiences and perspectives within the African American community in California.
- Expert Consultations: The Task Force consulted with leading economists and policy experts, including Dr. Kaycea Campbell, Dr. William Spriggs, Dr. William A. Darity Jr., Dr. Thomas Craemer, and A. Kirsten Mullen, to inform its economic calculations and policy recommendations.
- Review of Existing Research and Data: The Task Force reviewed existing academic research, historical records, legal documents, and relevant data to develop a comprehensive understanding of the historical and contemporary harms faced by African Americans in California. This research included examining:
- Historical records of slavery and discrimination.
- Data on racial disparities in wealth, health, education, housing, and other sectors.
- Analyses of previous reparations efforts, both domestically and internationally.
Timeline of Key Events:
- September 30, 2020: AB 3121 was signed into law, establishing the Task Force.
- June 1, 2022: The Task Force publishes its Interim Report, summarizing historical findings on the harms of slavery and systemic discrimination against African Americans in California.
- July 1, 2023: Repeal of AB 3121, but the Task Force continues its work.
- June 2023: The Task Force releases its Final Report, outlining comprehensive recommendations for reparations, including a formal apology, economic calculations, and policy proposals spanning various sectors.
Recommendations:
The Final Report offers a wide range of recommendations (for further details, click here), encompassing:
- A formal apology from the State of California for its role in perpetuating harm against African Americans.
- The creation of the California American Freedman Affairs Agency to oversee reparations programs.
- Methodologies for calculating and providing economic reparations for harms such as housing discrimination, mass incarceration, and devaluation of Black businesses.
- Comprehensive policy reforms address systemic inequities in criminal justice, education, health, and economic opportunity.
- Public education initiatives to enhance understanding of the history of slavery and its lasting impacts.
And finally, an Ongoing Process:
The Task Force emphasizes that its recommendations represent a starting point in a continuous process of repair and reconciliation, urging ongoing vigilance and commitment from the state to address the enduring legacy of slavery and discrimination against African Americans in California.
Read the articles below or the Racial Justice Task Force page for further information.
