Reparations in America: How cities from San Francisco to Wilmington are trying to get it done

The latest example of an advancement towards reparations happened on Thursday in California, which formally apologized for the state’s role in slavery. California is part of a trend of local and state governments across the U.S. establishing a task force that would recommend how reparations would be executed.For example, in Boston, Massachusetts, task force members will propose reparations measures based on historical research and other factors compiled by the experts for City Hall to consider. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul established a reparations task force last year in December. Reparations can take different forms but broadly refer to payments or other forms of recompense to the descendants of Blacks affected by slavery or past racist policies.Reparations have also been proposed or expected to be implemented in other cities in California, as well as Fulton County, Georgia; Shelby County, Tennessee; Detroit; St. Paul, Minnesota; and Durham, North Carolina. The practice is even being considered at the federal level, with “Squad” member Rep. Jamaal Bowman, D-N.Y., sponsoring a resolution that seeks to establish that the U.S. has a “legal and moral obligation” to institute reparations. “It’s not that cash payments by themselves are enough. It’s that cash payments are one way to...