California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed a formal apology for the state’s historical involvement in slavery. This apology acknowledges the deep-rooted injustices and systemic racism that have persisted since the state’s early history, all while denying the historic injustice and brutality inflicted upon formerly enslaved people.
The apology may seem like a significant step towards recognizing the historical trauma experienced by enslaved people and their descendants, but it is not. It only serves as a reminder of the arduous and ongoing fight for racial justice and equality in America, and the nation’s staunch resistance to delivering justice the descendants of enslaved Black people deserve.
Here are some specific examples of the injustices and systemic racism experienced by enslaved people and their descendants in California:
Enslavement and its immediate aftermath:
- Forced labor and separation of families: Enslaved people were forced to work long hours in dangerous conditions, often separated from their families. They were not paid for their labor and had no control over their lives.
- Physical and psychological abuse: Enslaved people were often subjected to physical and psychological abuse, including whippings, beatings, and sexual assault.
- Denial of basic rights: Enslaved people were denied basic rights, such as the right to education, healthcare, and property ownership.
Post-emancipation discrimination:
- Jim Crow laws: After the Civil War, California passed a series of Jim Crow laws that discriminated against Black people in housing, education, employment, and public accommodations. These laws remained in effect until the 1960s.
- Redlining: Redlining was a discriminatory practice in which banks refused to lend money to Black people in certain neighborhoods. This made it difficult for Black people to buy homes and build wealth.
- Mass incarceration: Black people are disproportionately incarcerated in California. This is due to a number of factors, including racial profiling, harsher sentencing laws, and the war on drugs.
- Disparities in education and healthcare: Black students are more likely to be suspended or expelled from school than white students. They are also less likely to graduate from high school or college. Black people have a higher rate of infant mortality and are more likely to die from preventable diseases than white people.
These are just a few examples of the many injustices and systemic racism experienced by enslaved people and their descendants in California. The legacy of slavery continues to have a profound impact on Black communities today.
Here are some additional resources that you may find helpful:
- California Department of Justice report on slavery and its legacy: https://oag.ca.gov/ab3121/report
- The Equal Justice Initiative: https://eji.org/our-team/
- The National Museum of African American History and Culture: https://nmaahc.si.edu/
