California’s reparations task force voted 5-4 that Black Californians who can prove their direct lineage to enslaved ancestors or a descendent of a free Black person residing in the U.S.during the 19th century will be eligible for the statewide reparations, thus finally addressing the harms of slavery. Although this new upcoming law excludes Black Californians such as Black immigrants. The decision to receive reparations based on direct lineage will only allow for a fraction of the 2.6 million Black residents to qualify.
Governor Gavin Newsom and legislative leaders have filled the task force with elected officials, civil rights leaders, attorneys, and representation experts. The process for the task force to determine who was eligible for reparations and how to properly address slavery and discrimination was a two-year process.
The vote made by the task force has received enormous pushback. Many people argue that all ““financial reparations should go to all Black people in the state regardless of lineage.” In addition, there are limited written records of enslaved people, therefore, proof of lineage might not be the right direction to proceed. An example of how lineage does not need to be used is Japanese Americans who were not born during World War II were paid reparations similar to the Japanese Americans who survived the internment camps during World War II. Therefore, the use of lineage can seem as if the government is favoring privilege. The recommendations made by the task force have yet to become law; they must work their way up to the California legislature, then must be signed by the governor.
This blog post is part of the CIMA Law Group Blog. If you are in need of legal help, the CIMA Law Group is a law firm in Phoenix, Arizona which possesses expertise in Immigration Law, Criminal Defense, Personal Injury,
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