California took several actions for reparations. Could MD be next?

California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s apology last week for the state’s part in condoning slavery has reinvigorated conversations in Maryland about what can be done to atone for its role in enslavement and the subsequent discriminatory practices levied against Black Americans. The formal apology by Newsom was among several bills the governor signed as a way to atone for injustices against Black Americans in the state, including several dealing with reparations. “The State of California accepts responsibility for the role we played in promoting, facilitating, and permitting the institution of slavery, as well as its enduring legacy of persistent racial disparities. Building on decades of work, California is now taking another important step forward in recognizing the grave injustices of the past — and making amends for the harms caused,” he said in a statement. His stance caught the attention of Marylanders who have been pushing for some kind of redress. The state apologized formally in 2007, but many groups are fighting for further reparations. The Baltimore Banner thanks its sponsors. Become one. Some people, like Carl Snowden, believe reparations in Maryland could occur locally over the next few years. “I believe much of this will be determined by what happens...