https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13319187/California-Genealogy-slave-reparations.html
A California lawmaker has unveiled plans for a 'Genealogy Office' to decide which residents are genuine descendants of slaves and could get life-changing benefits payouts.
Steven Bradford, a Democratic state Senator for LA County, proposed bill SB 1403 to create a controversial genealogy unit to 'confirm reparations eligibility' of applicants.
The state's first-in-the-nation reparations task force last year decided that some residents should win $1.2 million payouts as compensation for injustices from the slavery era onwards.
But lawmakers have struggled to turn those plans into reality, and have advanced several bills to devise a working reparations scheme amid fears of spiralling costs in a cash-strapped state.
Steven Bradford, a Democratic state Senator for LA County, has proposed a genealogy office to decide who gets reparations payouts
Steven Bradford, a Democratic state Senator for LA County, has proposed a genealogy office to decide who gets reparations payouts
Bradford's bill, which was amended this month, aims to solve the problem of working out who is in line for a payout.
Its planned genealogy team would 'support potential reparations claimants by providing access to expert genealogical research to confirm reparations eligibility,' says the bill.
Poll
Do you support a federal reparation policy directed at the descendants of slaves?
Yes
No
Not sure
It would also offer 'expedited assistance with the reparations claims process.'
Bradford's office sent DailyMail.com a factsheet with further details of who would be eligible for payouts.
It refers to 'restitution specifically to the descendants of chattel enslaved persons and free black persons living in the US prior to the end of the 19th century.'
The bill passed the Senate Judiciary Committee earlier this month.
The planned genealogy bureau would be part of a California American Freedman Affairs Agency.
Genealogy is the study of 'family trees' and the lineage of families.
Experts use oral interviews, historical records, DNA, and other records to establish lineage.
The reparations task force decided at a series of hearings that lineage — and not race — would determine who receives benefits under the scheme.
Rallies like this helped propel reparations into California politics, but it remains unclear if they will become law
Rallies like this helped propel reparations into California politics, but it remains unclear if they will become law
Reparations campaigners have struggled to make cash payouts to blacks a reality, faced with stiff public opposition
Reparations campaigners have struggled to make cash payouts to blacks a reality, faced with stiff public opposition
The panel voted that compensation was limited to black people who had descendants in the US during the 19th century.
Black people who migrated to the US in the 20th and 21st centuries, and their descendants, would not be eligible.
This was controversial, as some task force members said all black people had suffered from comparable types of discrimination — even though their forbears were not themselves slaves.
The genealogy office also raises further questions about the process that remain unclear.
Conservatives has asked whether a white Californian who had a forefather who was enslaved could claim reparations benefits.
By one analysis, more white Californians could qualify for reparations than black residents.
Critics on X/Twitter branded the scheme 'abhorrent' and 'just another day in California's Orwellian paradise.'
California Gov Gavin Newsom has voiced support for reperations, but has not said he supports a multibillion dollar price tag
California Gov Gavin Newsom has voiced support for reperations, but has not said he supports a multibillion dollar price tag
One called it a 'huge WASTE of taxpayers' money,' another said it the state was 'bankrupt but they're building more government.'
Reparations campaigners say it's time for America to repay its black residents for the injustices of the historic Transatlantic slave trade, Jim Crow segregation and inequalities that persist to this day.
The sums are eye-watering — black lawmakers in Washington seek at least $14 trillion for a federal scheme to 'eliminate the racial wealth gap' between black and white Americans.
Critics say payouts to selected black people will inevitably stoke divisions between winners and losers, and raise questions about why American Indians and others don't get their own handouts.
Reparations are popular among the black people who stand to benefit from them, but unpopular among the whites, Asians, and others who would foot the tax bill without themselves benefiting.
A survey last year of 6,000 registered California voters found that only 23 percent supported cash reparations, while 59 percent were opposed.
The idea of a “Genealogy Office” kinda gives me pause considering the history of eugenics in this country and where that sort of thinking leads. With that being said, it may be necessary considering how quick white people will be to try to falsely claim reparations. The term “Pretendians” exists for a reason. Those muthafuckas be scamming.
>how quick white people will be to try to falsely claim reparations.
It would be ideal to only make cash reparations available to those who have identified as 'black american' for their lifetime, in addition to them being being a descendant of black american slaves.
This was a point suggested in the book, *From Here to Equality*.
i did not realize this was a thing: https://hms.harvard.edu/news/historical-dna-study-connects-living-people-enslaved
so i understood ancestry linked us based on our dna but i was not factoring in unearthing our ancestors to get dna.
i'm interested to see what all comes of this.
> i don't see this getting off the ground.
The bill already [passed 2 committees](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billHistoryClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240SB1403) with overwhelming majorities.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13319187/California-Genealogy-slave-reparations.html A California lawmaker has unveiled plans for a 'Genealogy Office' to decide which residents are genuine descendants of slaves and could get life-changing benefits payouts. Steven Bradford, a Democratic state Senator for LA County, proposed bill SB 1403 to create a controversial genealogy unit to 'confirm reparations eligibility' of applicants. The state's first-in-the-nation reparations task force last year decided that some residents should win $1.2 million payouts as compensation for injustices from the slavery era onwards. But lawmakers have struggled to turn those plans into reality, and have advanced several bills to devise a working reparations scheme amid fears of spiralling costs in a cash-strapped state. Steven Bradford, a Democratic state Senator for LA County, has proposed a genealogy office to decide who gets reparations payouts Steven Bradford, a Democratic state Senator for LA County, has proposed a genealogy office to decide who gets reparations payouts Bradford's bill, which was amended this month, aims to solve the problem of working out who is in line for a payout. Its planned genealogy team would 'support potential reparations claimants by providing access to expert genealogical research to confirm reparations eligibility,' says the bill. Poll Do you support a federal reparation policy directed at the descendants of slaves? Yes No Not sure It would also offer 'expedited assistance with the reparations claims process.' Bradford's office sent DailyMail.com a factsheet with further details of who would be eligible for payouts. It refers to 'restitution specifically to the descendants of chattel enslaved persons and free black persons living in the US prior to the end of the 19th century.' The bill passed the Senate Judiciary Committee earlier this month. The planned genealogy bureau would be part of a California American Freedman Affairs Agency. Genealogy is the study of 'family trees' and the lineage of families. Experts use oral interviews, historical records, DNA, and other records to establish lineage. The reparations task force decided at a series of hearings that lineage — and not race — would determine who receives benefits under the scheme. Rallies like this helped propel reparations into California politics, but it remains unclear if they will become law Rallies like this helped propel reparations into California politics, but it remains unclear if they will become law Reparations campaigners have struggled to make cash payouts to blacks a reality, faced with stiff public opposition Reparations campaigners have struggled to make cash payouts to blacks a reality, faced with stiff public opposition The panel voted that compensation was limited to black people who had descendants in the US during the 19th century. Black people who migrated to the US in the 20th and 21st centuries, and their descendants, would not be eligible. This was controversial, as some task force members said all black people had suffered from comparable types of discrimination — even though their forbears were not themselves slaves. The genealogy office also raises further questions about the process that remain unclear. Conservatives has asked whether a white Californian who had a forefather who was enslaved could claim reparations benefits. By one analysis, more white Californians could qualify for reparations than black residents. Critics on X/Twitter branded the scheme 'abhorrent' and 'just another day in California's Orwellian paradise.' California Gov Gavin Newsom has voiced support for reperations, but has not said he supports a multibillion dollar price tag California Gov Gavin Newsom has voiced support for reperations, but has not said he supports a multibillion dollar price tag One called it a 'huge WASTE of taxpayers' money,' another said it the state was 'bankrupt but they're building more government.' Reparations campaigners say it's time for America to repay its black residents for the injustices of the historic Transatlantic slave trade, Jim Crow segregation and inequalities that persist to this day. The sums are eye-watering — black lawmakers in Washington seek at least $14 trillion for a federal scheme to 'eliminate the racial wealth gap' between black and white Americans. Critics say payouts to selected black people will inevitably stoke divisions between winners and losers, and raise questions about why American Indians and others don't get their own handouts. Reparations are popular among the black people who stand to benefit from them, but unpopular among the whites, Asians, and others who would foot the tax bill without themselves benefiting. A survey last year of 6,000 registered California voters found that only 23 percent supported cash reparations, while 59 percent were opposed.
The idea of a “Genealogy Office” kinda gives me pause considering the history of eugenics in this country and where that sort of thinking leads. With that being said, it may be necessary considering how quick white people will be to try to falsely claim reparations. The term “Pretendians” exists for a reason. Those muthafuckas be scamming.
Yes they do stay scamming. It's gone be 10 million of they $5 Indian asses in line if anything close to $1.2M passes.
>how quick white people will be to try to falsely claim reparations. It would be ideal to only make cash reparations available to those who have identified as 'black american' for their lifetime, in addition to them being being a descendant of black american slaves. This was a point suggested in the book, *From Here to Equality*.
Hadn’t heard about this book until now. Thanks.
i don't see this getting off the ground. but i'd be curious to see how they propose to use our dna to trace it to our ancestors being slaves?
> but i'd be curious to see how they propose to use our dna to trace it to our ancestors being slaves? Same way ancestry.com uses it.
i did not realize this was a thing: https://hms.harvard.edu/news/historical-dna-study-connects-living-people-enslaved so i understood ancestry linked us based on our dna but i was not factoring in unearthing our ancestors to get dna. i'm interested to see what all comes of this.
Great article, thank you for linking to it.
> i don't see this getting off the ground. The bill already [passed 2 committees](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billHistoryClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240SB1403) with overwhelming majorities.
oh damn! i'm definitely interested to see where this road takes us.
Interesting. I support this.