FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
WHAT ARE REPARATIONS?
The United Nations defines Reparations as:
Restitution: restoration of a victim’s rights, property, citizenship status
Rehabilitation: psychological and physical support
Compensation
Satisfaction: acknowledgement of guilt, apology, burials, construction of memorials, etc.
Guarantees of non-repetition: reformation of laws and civil and political structures that led to or fueled violence
The different forms of reparations can be administered individually and/or collectively, in material and/or symbolic forms and in synergy with other post-conflict justice efforts to satisfy victim needs and demands for justice.
Reparations programs should be comprehensive and complex; they should include elements that are material and symbolic, collective and individual, immediate and ongoing, and that involve pecuniary measures, as well as ensuring access to essential services.
Read Definition according to the United Nations→
What do you say to a non-Black Californian who says, "I am not guilty of slavery, nor are my ancestors, therefore why should I be responsible for paying Reparations?"
Reparations would provide policies, programs, and financial support to reverse the identified harms to Black Americans, prevent the harms from ever occurring again, and provide resources for Black Americans to achieve personal and financial success denied in the past.
What would the implications of Reparations be for Black residents in the state?
Reparations would provide policies, programs, and financial support to reverse the identified harms to Black Americans, prevent the harms from ever occurring again, and provide resources for Black Americans to achieve personal and financial success denied in the past.
Can California be a role model for establishing Reparations in other states or nationwide?
The components of the Task Force’s Final Report are not only intended to satisfy the requirements the California Legislature set out in AB 3121, but also to serve as a blueprint for other states and, eventually, the federal government when they perform the critical task of atoning for our nation’s historic victimization of African Americans, especially those who are descendants of persons enslaved in the United States. While California’s first-in-the-nation effort is an important step, and this national shame can ultimately be comprehensively redressed only through national Reparations.