California’s Slow Progress on Reparations Highlights Need for Deeper Understanding

Almost one year ago, the California Reparations Task Force, the first statewide body to study reparations for Black people, released a landmark report with 115 policy recommendations to address disparities in health and healthcare, education and housing, environmental and criminal justice. The task force did not recommend cash payments. Still, just 43% of Californians had a favorable opinion of the task force, according to research published in June 2023 by the Public Policy Institute of California. We have to change the way we frame reparations. Welcome to the debut of a regular column that will, hopefully, aid audiences in understanding reparations as more than a check. I’m curious to hear your thoughts. Please email me at otaylor@kqed.org. I’ll share KQED’s stories from my colleagues, including Guy Marzorati, Lakshmi Sarah, Manjula Varghese, Beth LaBerge and Finney, among others, who have been chronicling the reparations movement for over two years. With our reparations tracker, we’re keeping tabs on 14 reparations bills as they move through the Assembly and the Senate. In May, the state Assembly passed a bill apologizing for California’s role in supporting slavery. I’ll also link stories from other outlets publishing insightful reporting on reparations. Pearl Devers, Section 14 survivor....