California Opens First US Office for Slave Descendants’ Reparations

California has made history by becoming the first US state to create a permanent office dedicated to reparations for African American descendants of enslaved people.

Governor Gavin Newsom signed a new law establishing the Office of Freedmen Affairs, a first-of-its-kind institution aimed at addressing the legacy of slavery and promoting racial and economic equality.

According to a statement released by the California Legislative Black Caucus, the move marks a significant shift from symbolic recognition of historical injustices to building long-term institutional mechanisms for justice and equality.

The newly formed office will oversee reparations programs, develop policies, and manage initiatives designed to confront the enduring effects of slavery and systemic discrimination in the United States.