By Robert J. Hansen | OBSERVER Staff Writer
California planned to allocate $12 million for reparations legislation when Gov. Gavin Newsom signed the budget in July, marking a significant step toward supporting the state’s descendants of enslaved people.
In a letter to the governor’s office obtained by The OBSERVER, the California Legislative Black Caucus requested $6 million be designated for the passage of Senate Bill 1403, which aimed to establish the California American Freedmen Affairs Agency. The remaining $6 million was requested for the California Black Freedom Fund, a five-year, $100 million initiative focused on building Black power and ensuring that movement-based organizations receive sustained investments to combat systemic racism. The fund also works to educate the public about reparations.
SB 1403 was one of two bills that stalled at the end of the legislative session last month, angering advocates such as the Coalition for a Just and Equitable California.
With the Freedmen Affairs Agency yet to be established, questions have arisen about the status of the $12 million.
At a town hall meeting at Florin Square on Sept. 13, CJEC lead organizer Chris Lodgson and about 35 attendees heard from Marc Philpart, president of the Black Freedom Fund, who said the fund would not receive $6 million.
“We don’t have any agreement with the state for this $6 million,” Philpart told The OBSERVER.
Although Philpart’s organization has received $3.5 million in state funding to support Black-led movements and community outreach, he emphasized that it does not want funds intended for reparations legislation.
“We don’t want to confuse what our work is with the state … with reparations,” Philpart said.
Black Caucus Chair Lori Wilson’s office confirmed that the $12 million has not yet been allocated to any legislation or outside organizations.
“They haven’t decided yet,” said a Wilson staff member. The Black Caucus has a strong relationship with the Freedom Fund, and the intention behind allocating funds to them was to help educate the public about reparations, according to the staff member.
“If this is going to happen, there needs to be education for Californians, and we feel the California Black Freedom Fund provides that,” the staff member added.
Sen. Lola Smallwood-Cuevas, D-Los Angeles, told Dominique DiPrima on KBLA 1580 that how to spend the $12 million remains to be decided.
“That money has been earmarked, but it has not been allocated,” Smallwood-Cuevas explained.
She emphasized that despite the state’s budget deficit, the Black Caucus remains committed to ensuring that the $12 million is available for reparations.
“We are steadfast in ensuring that the funds the caucus was able to secure remain earmarked for reparations,” Smallwood-Cuevas said.
Despite some advocates viewing what happened to SB 1403 as a setback for reparations, most bills in the Black Caucus’ reparations package have passed and await the governor’s signature.
Assembly Constitutional Amendment 8, which has become Proposition 6, aims to eliminate involuntary servitude in California prisons and was approved for the November ballot. Additionally, Assembly Bill 628 requires the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to develop a voluntary work program if Prop. 6 passes.
The following reparations bills await the governor’s signature:
- SB 1050 (Bradford) – California American Freedmen Affairs Agency: racially motivated eminent domain.
- SB 1089 (Smallwood-Cuevas) – Food and prescription access: grocery and pharmacy closures.
- AB 1815 (Weber) – Discrimination: race and hairstyles.
- AB 1975 (Bonta) – Medi-Cal: medically supportive food and nutrition interventions.
- AB 1986 (Bryan) – State prisons: banned books.
- AB 3089 (Jones-Sawyer) – Chattel slavery: formal apology.
- AB 3131 (McCarty) – California Career Technical Education Incentive Grant Program.
Dr. Cheryl Grills, a member of the reparations task force, described the reparations movement as a marathon rather than a sprint, urging people not to fracture the movement over unmet expectations.
“The process may have faced challenges, but I don’t believe the movement has been harmed,” Grills told The OBSERVER.
Dr. Cornel West, an author and social critic running for president, called for less infighting within the Black Caucus and the advocacy community. He emphasized the need for courageous leadership that prioritizes the community to make reparations a reality in California.
“I believe every Black leader should wake up thinking of Fannie Lou Hamer, Martin Luther King Jr., and Malcolm X,” West said.