DATE:
August 27, 2024
21
TO:
Board of Supervisors
SUBJECT
Title
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF THE COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO TO SUPPORT THE CALIFORNIA LEGISLATIVE BLACK CAUCUS' 2024 REPARATIONS LEGISLATIVE PACKAGE (DISTRICTS: ALL)
Body
OVERVIEW
California's involvement in slavery is an often-overlooked aspect of its history. Although California did not enter the Union as a slave state, slavery did exist within its borders. The Gold Rush era brought an influx of settlers, including slaveholders from the Southern states, leading to the presence of enslaved African Americans in California. Even though the California Constitution of 1849 banned slavery, the state's economy and legal system were intertwined with the broader institution of slavery in the United States through trade, economic ties, and legal precedent.
Even after slavery was legally abolished in 1865, government institutions at all levels continued to enforce segregation and discriminatory practices that marginalized African Americans. This systemic oppression denied them of opportunities for economic advancement, equal education, and access to adequate healthcare. As a result, many African Americans faced enduring hardships that disproportionately affected their socio-economic status and overall well-being.
Assembly Bill 3121 established California's Task Force to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African Americans (Reparations Task Force). The Reparations Task Force researched the historical injustices inflicted upon African Americans in California and provided 150 recommendations on how the state should address the enduring impacts of slavery, systemic racism, and discriminatory policies.
After reviewing the Reparations Task Force's recommendations, the California Legislative Black Caucus introduced the 2024 Reparations Legislative Package consisting of 14 bills in the areas of Education (AB 1929, AB 3131), Civil Rights (ACA 7, ACR 135, AB 1815, SB 1050, AB 3089), Cr...
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