California budget includes $12 million for reparations for Black residents

California’s reparations movement reached a new milestone after state lawmakers recently set aside $12 million in its next budget to provide recompense to Black residents. The allocation potentially represents the largest investment yet in the fledging campaign for reparations. The budget deal is “historic,” said Chris Lodgson, a reparations activist who lobbied lawmakers on the issue. “Obviously, it’s not enough,” Lodgson said. “But this is the first time ever that reparations for Black people will be a line item in a state budget.” California is pursuing what could become the country’s largest, and most expensive, government-funded effort to offer reparations to Black residents for decades of racial discrimination. But the $12 million included in California’s $300 billion budget is a fraction of what reparations activists wanted. Last year, a reparations task force established by the state legislature recommended billions in reparations, including $1.2 million in payments for lifelong Black California residents older than 50 years old. Given the state’s financial condition, supporters say they’re encouraged that any money was allocated at all. In addition to a nearly $50 billion budget shortfall in the coming fiscal year, Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) has declared a statewide fiscal emergency. “In this tough economic...