Bill for GOP reparations is a bad sign for CA’s Black Cook

From Denise AmmosCalmness

This comment was originally published by CalmattersS Register about their ballots.

At a time when the political climate calls for strong and stable leadership, many black Californians lose faith in the lawmakers who sent to Sacramento to deal with the agenda of justice anchored by reparations.

This enabled one of the main destroyers of the Capitol – a white, conservative fiery mark – to take advantage of the possibility of emphasizing the hypocrisy of the Democratic Party from Champion of Reparation Bill competing with a Such measure Put from the California Legislative Black Cook.

And one of the famous state reparation groups made the decision to open the eyes to support this version of reparation legislation rather than the Black Couch proposal, considers the Republican legislator, a member of the Assembly member Bill Esaili From a crown, more reliable.

People on both sides cast a shadow. I can’t say I blame them.

Some rotating supporters say they expect to be offended and disappointed again this year. It is difficult to trust the process – or even in a cause – when you cannot tell who is seriously involved in reparations and who doesn’t mind fail, as long as they claim that they have tried.

Recently black kakusi leaders predicted in interviews with Calmatters that their so -called The Package of the Road to Repair Out of the 16 proposals for priorities, the legislators and approval of the governor would win and eventually help the right decades of racial errors.

In this package is a fundamental measure designed to be the first step towards reparations.

Author of Sen. Akila Weber PearsonThe Doctor in the San Diego area, which chairs Cherni Caucous, Senate Bill 518 It would have set up a state agency called the descendants of the descendants of US slavery, which will develop a database from descendants of enslaved persons.

Another bill associated with it would Pay California State University 6 million dollars To investigate the best way to check people’s genealogy.

Shortly thereafter Essayli presented AB 1315which would create the California Agency for US Free Affairs, which also determines the eligibility of reparations, but it will not spend $ 6 million on research.

This measure has no approval of the Black Cook, although its language is right out of reparation and is similar to a popular bill that was drawn on the last day of the session last year.

Retrieve a broken promise

Essayli is known for being a political provocateur. Sometimes he enjoys Ire, who ignites his democratic colleagues.

Eg last year he was Removed from two legislative committees And his microphone was excluded from the middle of the speech at least twice because of his fabrications. Once During a dispute He had to be physically separated from a member of the assembly Corey JacksonDemocrat from the Moreno Valley, which he has climbed.

Essayli has said many times that it is against paying money reparations. Still, he swears that he is seriously involved in the support of this reparation offering.

And some people believe him. Thehe Coalition for fair and fair CaliforniaOne of the largest coalitions for reparations in the country, all hearted approved Essayli’s measure for Black Caucucus. Some of his leaders have even posted photos on social media with him.

The seeds of their defeat were planted last year when the members of the Black Cook pulled out some key reparation suggestions Just before legislators can vote on them. Many supporters of reparations were shocked then and still boil.

“They violated their own promise,” says Camila Moore, a former chairman of the state operational group. Two years ago the nine -member appointed by the state panel created a Massive report For legislators about how slavery and racism devastated the generations of black citizens.

Most of the numerous recommendations of the report are not proposed as legislation.

Read more: California is the first state to deal with reparations for black residents. What does that really mean

Although Black Kakus’s measure has a greater chance in the legislative power dominated by the Democrats, supporters of reparations remain separated.

Chris Lodson, Coalition Leader, Put it this way In a recent social media publication:

“Black Americans wishing to support the best policy, no matter who it comes, is scary for these people,” he writes to X. “And when you escape from the (democratic) party plantation and consider yourself.

It does not help that some people are suspicious of the decision to spend $ 6 million – half the country’s money allocated for reparation works – under a Cal State genealogy project.

Essayli insists he and other Republicans will be willing to listen and that reparations are a concept worth discussing. Although he does not like monetary reparations, he will not mind in the form of private school vouchers or a small business loans, he told me in an interview.

But there is another reason for him to support the idea of ​​the free man’s desk – he knows that this can disturb the Democrats. Essayli likes the game of mind.

He doesn’t hate the player, he says.

“If I have the opportunity to disturb the Democrats, I will do it,” he explained. “This is a policy, okay? If I have the opportunity to take a new group of voters, why didn’t I do it?”

Reluctant to speak

Few state legislators or national reparation experts want to talk about it. From more than a dozen professors, defenders and legislators who called or sent an email for this unexpected twist, only a few came to the phone to comment.

William Dari, Jr., an economist at the University of Duke, who consults with the special reparation group, suggested that start from the bureaus of state reparations, is not the best route anyway. The pursuit of federal reparations is a more bet, he told me

James Gregory, a professor of history at the University of Washington, says his country’s recent approach to reparations is working. Over the past year, the state has allocated $ 16 million in Aid to advance payment to colorful people whose families were discriminated against by restraining laws for the covenant.

In California, Weber Pearson’s cabinet said she was obviously too busy for a phone interview for one of her most profitable offers, although she provides some comments by email.

“The fact that my Republican counterpart has introduced a bill similar to mine speaks a lot about the bilateral nature of this issue,” writes Weber Pearson. “Both bills reflect a shared commitment to repairing generations caused by black Californians and making past mistakes.”

But of course, her proposed legislation is better, she says, because it would also create a subdivision to help families regain land or property taken through Racist prominent domain practicesS

When I asked her why the Black Cook is floating her new legislation, instead of just introducing last year’s measure, I was told that the old man needed changes to make him enjoyable for a non -permanent ally: Governor Gavin New.

“We believe that these changes make the package much more strong and we are fully confident that all the Black Caucus bills will reach the governor’s desk and will be signed in law,” she writes.

She also claims that their legislation “does not create unnecessary bureaucracy” and will use existing state agencies for many of their functions.

This is less clear to me as it seems that Essayli’s proposal will allow the Freedman agency to start working immediately – until the new Black Cook agency may have to wait for the results of the research. The legislation that funds the genealogical survey does not specifically list the deadline.

This research will be worth it, insists the Zamm Isaac BrianDemocrat from the city of Culver.

“It can’t be” check this field because I know I have a relative. ” We need the structure of the agency, but we also need a genealogical methodology, “he said.

So far, none of the new reparation measures has listened. While we are waiting, how much is it likely that both sides will collect and coordinate their bills?

“I am open to collaborate with anyone who is genuinely committed to dealing with and repairing the historical harm with black Californians,” said Weber Pearson Diplomatically.

“I’m ready to work with anyone, but the Democrats show more than one Jotte to work on the path,” Esayly said less diplomatic.

Brian said his door “will stay open” to work with any legislator, although he doubts Esayly is serious given his experience.

“I do not think it is possible to work with someone who has shown an open neglect of the black community,” said Brian, “who has promulgated the criminalization of the black community and who does not vote for an apology for slavery. There is no seriousness.”

This is a fair criticism of Essayli. But Black Cacus and Newsom have not shown that they can deliver both. And there is no guarantee that they will stand behind this year’s legislation.

Before California can be taken seriously, as a country that seeks to repair the real damage in its past, its leaders will first have to restore the belief that they can keep their promises.

This article was Originally Published on CalMatters and was reissued under Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Noderivatives License.