By Tara Perry
Guest Columnist
The California Legislative Black Caucus has once again thrown Black Californians under the bus to protect the Democratic Party’s political interests. In a critical moment for reparations legislation, Gov. Gavin Newsom reportedly warned that if the reparations bills passed, he would have to veto them because the Democratic National Committee did not want Kamala Harris connected to the reparations package.
This blatant political maneuver undermines our urgent needs and exposes a deeper betrayal by our own elected “leaders.”
The Legislative Black Caucus claims to have crafted a “reparations” package of 14 bills in collaboration with Newsom, but those snaggletooth measures fall woefully short. Extending the CROWN Act or providing prisoners with access to reading materials is not reparations.
While potentially beneficial on their own, these bills serve the general public and prisoners broadly, not those of us who are descendants of American chattel slavery. True reparations require targeted, systemic action, not watered-down, symbolic gestures.
The caucus’ refusal to introduce two of the most significant pieces of reparations legislation in American history for a vote — Senate Bills 1403 and 1331, both by state Sen. Steven Bradford — reveals their failure to meet the moment. These bills would have laid the groundwork for a reparations program in California, setting a precedent for the nation and putting Kamala Harris on the hook to deliver.
Instead, the Legislative Black Caucus has promised to reintroduce the legislation after the November election, again delaying justice. We are not fooled; we’ve seen these tactics before, with reparations promises pushed aside since 1989 when U.S. Rep. John Conyers first introduced House Resolution 40.
In a shocking twist, the Legislative Black Caucus’ actions were so egregious that a Republican Assemblyman, Bill Essayli, attempted to introduce the bills himself. Yet, not a single caucus member seconded the motion to bring it to a vote.
Even more disheartening, when we called the office of Assemblywoman Mia Bonta, the floor manager for SB 1331, her staff assured us she would bring the bill to a vote before the session ended. Meanwhile, Assemblyman Reggie Jones-Sawyer’s office claimed they “weren’t part of those conversations.” This is despite all caucus members co-sponsoring these bills and never once documenting any opposition publicly.
When it came time to deliver, it appeared that they deceived the public, especially Black Californians. These bills were on the agenda to be heard, yet were skipped over and ultimately refused to be introduced by Jones-Sawyer (SB 1403) and Bonta (SB 1331). The betrayal feels deliberate and calculated, showing a complete disregard for their constituents in favor of protecting party lines and personal agendas and aiding in stabbing the bills author Steven Bradford in the back.
This betrayal is partly why we, as Black Californians and many Black American descendants of chattel slavery, feel disillusioned with the Democratic Party. U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee managed to push HR 40 further than ever, only for former Speaker Nancy Pelosi to block it from a floor vote.
Despite all the dashiki-wearing, knee-taking performances, Democrats consistently fail to deliver when it’s time for real action and would like us to sit idly by while continuing to kick the reparations can down the road.
The Legislative Black Caucus’ decision to stall SB 1403 and SB 1331 even after passing committees with overwhelming support feels like a slap in the face. The bills were ready, the votes were there, and we were poised to see real progress. Yet, the CLBC’s refusal to act shows a complete disregard for their constituents, prioritizing party politics and personal disputes over the people who need reparations now, not later. Justice delayed is justice denied.
We do not need more excuses, symbolic bills, or promises of future action. We need reparations that directly address the specific harms faced by descendants of enslaved people. As this story continues to unfold there is growing suspicion that something more insidious may be at play — potential corruption behind closed doors.
The Democratic Party’s repeated failure to act on reparations leaves us fighting not just against systemic racism but also against our own supposed allies. The Legislative Black Caucus’ actions are more than political missteps. They are a profound betrayal of the community they claim to represent.
We will not be placated by promises of reintroducing bills “next legislative session” or claims that reparations are a “multi-year process.” The time for action is now.
Without SB 1403 and SB 1331, California’s reparations movement remains stalled, and the fight for justice remains as urgent as ever. We deserve more than empty promises. We deserve real change and we will not be silenced.
What’s truly appalling is that these state representatives, who vowed to heal the wounds inflicted on Black American descendants of the enslaved, have done the exact opposite. Their deceit has not only shattered trust but has ripped open old scars, pouring salt into the wounds of centuries-old trauma and injustice.
Instead of righting the wrongs of the past, they’ve compounded them, proving that the fight for justice is far from over.
Tara Perry is an activist/writer fighting for Black liberation, reparations and justice with two decades of advocacy in South Los Angeles. She was a candidate for the 57th Assembly District in the March 5 primary election.
