‘Making It Right.’ Leaders Gather in Fresno to Discuss Reparations for Black Californians

“It’s happening across our state, where people who are born in the community are not able to live in the community they were born in.” August 23, 2024 by Fresnoland Leave a Comment By Diego Vargas, fresnoland The State of Black California, a series of events presented by the California Legislative Black Caucus and the California Black Freedom Fund, stopped in Fresno on Saturday to promote dialogue regarding reparations for Black Californians. Specifically, the event series seeks to engage with Californians on the lasting impact slavery and the disenfranchisement of Black Americans had to garner support for state policies supporting reparations. “Today is to create momentum and build awareness around this vision for repair,” said Marc Philpart, executive director of the California Black Freedom Fund. The passing of Assembly Bill 3121 and the creation of a reparations task force in 2020 led to their studying of the institution of slavery and the harmful impacts that still prevail today. In their final report from 2023, they listed 115 recommendations for reparations legislation, including monetary compensation and a formal apology from the state as part of reparations for Black Californians. Since the final report, efforts have been made to introduce reparations legislation...