Black History and Equity in California

To celebrate Black History Month last year, then-Managing Editor Sharan Street worked with freelance writer Ray Delgado to compile a list of prominent Black Californians throughout the state’s history. What started as a Top Ten list grew to include 20, and then 30 men and women who helped make California a fairer and more equitable place. It’s a great read and you’ll find it below. 

But first, I want to reach back into the state’s very recent history—in fact, back just a few months to last September—when Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a raft of bills brought to him by the Legislative Black Caucus. Among the bills that became law that day were several explicitly designed to celebrate California’s diversity, to deliver equity to people of color, and to make the state more inclusive.

Assemblymember Lori D. Wilson, Chair of the Black Caucus, issued a statement that served as a reminder that much of the legislation had originated in the California Reparations Task Force. “I am deeply grateful to Governor Newsom for signing this critical set of Reparations Bills,” Wilson said,  “which lay a meaningful foundation to address the historic injustices faced by Black Californians.”

This was a big win for Black Californians and all Californians. But the bigger news that day was that the governor signed a formal apology for “California’s historical role in the perpetuation of slavery and its enduring legacy.”

The bill that mandated that apology was passed with bipartisan support—unanimously. 

Apparently here in California, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion survive. On both sides of the aisle. This week, as DEI efforts are under attack elsewhere, let's keep hope alive.

BTW: The last line of the governor's statement reads as follows: “The State of California commits to restore and repair affected peoples with actions beyond this apology.”