California Governor Gavin Newsom recently sent a complex signal regarding the state’s efforts to confront its history of racial discrimination against Black Americans. On one hand, he approved a $6 million allocation to California State University, specifically for researching methods to verify an individual’s status as a descendant of an enslaved person. On the other, he rejected several other significant bills promoted by the California Legislative Black Caucus, which aimed for more direct forms of reparations.
College Admissions: A Divisive Veto
One of the key bills Newsom opposed sought to enable public and private colleges in California to offer preferential admissions to descendants of enslaved individuals. Assemblymember Isaac Bryan, a Democrat and the bill’s author, expressed deep disappointment, emphasizing the critical need to safeguard students impacted by historical injustices. Governor Newsom, however, argued the bill was redundant, stating that universities already possess the authority for admissions decisions. He also pointed to legal challenges, particularly California’s Proposition 209, a 1996 voter-approved initiative that prohibits preferential treatment based on race, sex, ethnicity, color, or national origin in public sectors, including education. This legislative effort came more than a year after the U.S. Supreme Court effectively banned affirmative action in college admissions nationwide.
Additional Vetoed Proposals: Addressing Housing and Property Loss
Beyond the college admissions bill, Governor Newsom also rejected other legislation intended to address historical disparities, including measures that would have:
- Mandated state investigations into claims from families whose property was unjustly seized due to race through eminent domain.
- Allocated 10% of funds from a first-time homebuyer loan program specifically for descendants of enslaved people.
The Governor justified these vetoes by citing potential legal complications and the Civil Rights Department’s insufficient capacity to effectively execute such programs. Similar concerns led to the veto of comparable bills in the previous year.
A Legacy of Systemic Obstacles
Although California joined the Union as a free state in 1850, a groundbreaking reparations task force in 2023 revealed a darker history. The state itself endorsed practices that severely restricted Black home and business ownership, subjected Black communities to overbearing policing, and exposed neighborhoods to disproportionate environmental risks. In light of these enduring inequities, the Black caucus has, over the past two years, championed numerous bills designed to rectify injustices across housing, education, and the criminal justice system.
The Path Forward: Establishing a Bureau for Descendants of American Slavery
In a positive move, Governor Newsom did sign a law last week establishing a new Bureau for Descendants of American Slavery. This bureau’s crucial role will be to verify family lineage, thereby determining eligibility for future reparations programs. Democratic State Senator Akilah Weber Pierson, who chairs the Black caucus and authored the bill, hailed it as “a commitment to rectify wrongs that have persisted for far too long.” However, advocacy groups emphasize that mere verification falls short of genuine reparations. Chris Lodgson, a spokesperson for the Coalition for a Just and Equitable California, asserted, “SB 518 is not real reparations, nor is it a step closer to real reparations. Reparations delayed, reparations diverted, is reparations denied.”
Navigating the Complexities: History, Law, and Policy
While California has formally apologized for the enduring impact of slavery on its Black residents, the implementation of direct initiatives, such as preferential admissions or specific homebuyer assistance, continues to be a formidable legal and political challenge. The state’s journey to reconcile with its history of racial discrimination is ongoing. Lawmakers and community advocates persist in their pursuit of effective solutions to provide meaningful redress for descendants of enslaved individuals. Governor Newsom’s recent vetoes starkly highlight the inherent difficulties in enacting race-conscious policies within a state bound by both voter-approved legislation and overarching federal legal precedents.