Recap & Resources: Reparations in California

On Nov. 13, Racial Justice Allies hosted a free virtual event to talk about the status of reparations for African Americans in California, and ideas for taking individual and collective action. Below are links related to issues we discussed, as well as for further research.

California Reparations Report: https://oag.ca.gov/ab3121/report 

Presentation by Donald Tamaki on Refuting the Arguments against Reparations in California:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9KNC5b_jEE 

California Apology for the Perpetration of Gross Human Rights Violations and Crimes Against Humanity, with Special Consideration for African Slaves and their Descendants:  https://www.gov.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/9.26.24-California-Apology.pdf 

California Black Legislative Caucus website (includes descriptions of the reparations-related bills introduced in 2025): https://blackcaucus.legislature.ca.gov/roadtorepair  

Alliance for Reparations, Reconciliation, and Truth, a multi-racial, multi-sector alliance advancing reparations in California. Read ARRT’s blog here: https://alliancefor.org/category/arrt/ 

CalMatters review of 2025 bills: https://calmatters.org/justice/2025/10/reparations-what-next-after-newsom-signings/ 

Case study: The Nation’s First Municipal Reparations Program, Grounded in Black History:  https://www.mellon.org/grant-story/the-nations-first-reparations-program-grounded-in-black-history

Bay Area Regional Health Inequities Initiative (BARHII): https://barhii.org/

Sample letter to Mike McGuire, President Pro Tempore, California State Senate:

Subject: Act Now on California Reparations

Dear Senator Mike McGuire,
My name is [your name], and I am a constituent from [City]. I’m
[calling/writing] to demand that you put more than words—and instead real
action—into California’s reparations efforts. If you want my vote, you
need to work harder to keep reparations legislation front and center in your
campaign.
African Americans deserve meaningful, adequate compensation for the
egregious harm caused by slavery and its lasting impacts. This can’t wait any
longer. We need leadership, not lip service.
Act now.
Thank you.

If you have any questions or would like to learn more about Racial Justice Allies, please contact us at racialjusticeallies@gmail.com.