A task force in California has recommended that the state legislature pay out reparations for slavery, with estimated costs reaching $800 billion.

The recommendations were approved last night by the nine-member task force, which was assembled two years ago following the death of George Floyd at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer.

California was the first state to assemble a reparations task force. The recommendations include a formal apology for slavery and “cash down payments” for eligible residents. The payments are expected to be over $1.2 million for black residents older than 71.

During the meeting, an activist known as Rev. Tony Pierce criticized the task force, saying they were afraid of giving black communities what they truly deserved.

He called for reparations to be equivalent to the value of 40 acres of land in the 1860s, which would be worth $200 million for each African-American today. Former Black Panther Party chairwoman Elaine Brown called for demonstrations in support of reparations.

According to estimates by Aaron Kliegman of Fox News, the costs of reparations could include losing $2,352 per person per year of California residence for the over-policing of Black communities, $3,366 per person per year of residence for discriminatory lending and zoning, $13,619 per person per year of residence for injustices and discrimination in health, and $77,000 per person for Black-owned business losses and devaluations.

While the task force’s report provides estimates, it is up to lawmakers to determine the tangible numbers. However, the task force was not instructed to identify funding sources for the reparations, according to California Justice Department officials.

In contrast, the city of San Francisco has recommended that every black resident be allocated $5 million in reparations. The San Francisco reparations committee made the recommendation earlier this year.

The issue of reparations has been widely debated in the US, with supporters arguing that the government should make amends for the historical injustices and discrimination against African-Americans. Critics argue that the issue is complex and that reparations would be impractical, with some suggesting that it would be better to focus on other measures to address racial disparities, such as education, job training, and housing programs.

With California and San Francisco taking steps toward reparations for slavery, it remains to be seen whether other states and cities will follow suit.

This piece was written by LifeZette on May 9, 2023. It originally appeared in LifeZette and is used by permission.

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