The state task force on reparations for Black Californians makes a decision about just who should be eligible to receive them. But there’s still a lot of work to do, and a long way to go, before any African Americans get an apology and maybe a cash payment from the state

The task force met for a marathon hearing yesterday and finally voted, 5-4, to define who’s eligible for any reparations the state ultimately decides to award. The decision was that only Blacks living in California who can trace their lineage to African American slaves, or to a free Black person who was living in the United States before the end of the 19th century, will be entitled to reparations.

In other words, they rejected, on a very narrow vote, the contention that all Black Californians should get reparations, whether descended from slaves or not. It’s a bitterly contested issue, with strong feelings on both sides. In fact the task force is meeting again with its second day of discussions on how this process will move forward, focusing on the criminal justice system and hate crimes, and in future meetings on what form the reparations may ultimately take, as California is poised to become the first state in the nation to try to make amends in this way to Blacks, more than 150 years after the end of the Civil War. 

For more, KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Jeff Bell spoke with Doug Sovern, KCBS Radio political reporter and host of this segment.