In a recent heated debate, Ash Kalra, a prominent Democrat and the Indian-American chair of the Assembly Judiciary Committee in California, was moved to tears.
The emotional exchange took place during a discussion on Senate Bill 1331, a controversial reparations package for descendants of slavery. Kate Sanchez, a Latina Republican, argued passionately against the bill, stating that it was unjust to burden Asian and Latino residents with the cost of the reparations.
As reported by the Daily Mail, Sanchez, a businesswoman from the Los Angeles suburbs, criticized the proposed payouts as "fundamentally unfair."
The reparations bill is one of 14 currently under consideration by lawmakers, following a task force's proposal last year for $1.2 million packages for every descendant of slavery. Sanchez expressed her concern over the $800 billion price tag, which she argued would be unfairly shouldered by Asians and Latinas, who make up 55 percent of California's population. She stated, "Most of them, like me, are first, second, or third generation immigrants who had nothing to do with slavery, discrimination, Jim Crow laws, nothing." She further argued that it is "fundamentally unfair to force these people to pay for this," adding that the "pain of our past should not be paid by people of today."
Kalra, a progressive Indian American immigrant who represents eastern San Jose, countered Sanchez's argument, his voice faltering as he fought back tears. He asserted, "Compensation is necessary." He further argued that America 'became a superpower' from slavery and "we still benefit to this day from what happened to our brothers and sisters in the black community." He acknowledged the difficulty of the decision, stating, "I know it's not going to be easy," but emphasized that "It's not supposed to be easy to actually admit when you've caused pain."
This contentious debate comes at a time when the California Legislative Black Caucus is pushing for reparations. They have proposed a slate of 14 reparations bills addressing education, business, criminal justice, healthcare, and civil rights. While official apologies have received support, cash payouts to descendants of slaves have struggled to gain traction. A survey conducted last year found that only 23 percent of 6,000 registered California voters supported cash reparations, with 59 percent opposed.
The financial feasibility of the $800 billion reparations process is also a significant concern, given that it is more than 2.5 times the annual budget of a state already grappling with a $68 billion deficit. The reparations movement gained momentum in the US following the race protests over the police killing of George Floyd in 2020. However, progress has recently stalled.
Advocates argue that it's time for America to compensate its black residents for the injustices of the historic Transatlantic slave trade, Jim Crow segregation, and persisting inequalities. However, critics contend that payouts to selected black individuals could exacerbate divisions and raise questions about why American Indians and others don't receive similar compensation.
Reparations are more popular among black people who stand to benefit from them, but less so among whites, Asians, and others who would bear the tax burden without benefiting. A Reuters/Ipsos survey from last year revealed that 74 percent of blacks support US government reparations for slavery and its legacy, compared with just 26 percent of whites. The issue also divides along party lines, with reparations being more popular among Democrat voters than Republicans.
The debate over reparations is rooted in the brutal history of the Transatlantic slave trade, during which at least 12.5 million Africans were kidnapped, forcibly transported by European ships and merchants, and sold into slavery. Those who survived the harsh voyage ended up laboring on plantations in the Americas, including in Brazil, the Caribbean, and the United States, while others profited from their labor. The legacy of this history continues to shape discussions on racial justice and reparations today.
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