Gov. Gavin Newsom’s Reparations Task Force is considering an estimated $569 Billion to be paid by the state for reparations (that’s two and a half times California’s current state budget which already is running a deficit), to give to black-Americans living in California for past discriminatory practices and slavery, despite that California was never a slave state, the Globe has reported.
Some of the recent proposals are cash payouts of $350,000 to every African American, and $250,000 for every black-owned business to help close the “racial wealth gap,” which is actually a social justice grievance, and not slavery.
Perhaps even more egregious than this pay-out proposal is the big lie about California’s history; California was part of the Union, not the Confederate, and wasn’t a slave owning state.
As History.com reports:
As one of only two states in the entire Western United States, California could scarcely have been more isolated at the start of the Civil War. No transcontinental railroad or telegraph yet connected it to the rest of the country, and no battles would be fought there. Nonetheless, California proved pivotal to the Union war effort, propping up the economy with its vast gold reserves, raising huge sums for military medical assistance, and providing a high number of troops per capita.
A friend reminded me that a nearby town in Amador County, Northern California played a part in helping defeat the Confederate.
The Old Abe Cannon in Volcano, California has been there since the Civil War. It was smuggled there to protect Volcano because the gold from Volcano was a large funding source for the North in the War, he said.
He noted that is is incredibly frustrating that California, and Amador County, helped fund the fight against slavery but somehow we are now going to pay reparations?
Here is what Western Mining History says about the Old Abe Canon:
During the Civil War, Volcano’s gold served the Union – the Volcano Blues smuggled the cannon “Old Abe” to intimidate rebel sympathizers. The cannon was cast by Cyrus Alger & Co. in Boston in 1837 and is the first of two 6-pounders made on the same day to be stamped with serial number 4. The cannon was never fired. The other cannon still survives at Shiloh Battlefield and is called “Shiloh Sam.” Abe is the only cannon of that age in the U.S. still on a nineteenth century wooden carriage, and has had an interesting history all on its own.
History.com reports some California white residents continued to illegally enslave Black people there, even as a movement arose to ban African Americans from the state altogether.
“Pro-slavery Democrats, known locally as the Chivalry, or “Chivs,” were particularly prominent in Southern California and were led by Senator William M. Gwin, who owned hundreds of slaves back in his former home state of Mississippi. In 1859, the Chiv-dominated state legislature even passed a bill that would have split California in two, with the southern half open to slavery. (The U.S. Congress never entertained the plan, thereby killing it.)”
California state residents responded with aplomb to a federal call for troops in the summer of 1861, immediately forming two cavalry and five infantry regiments. By the end of the Civil War, some 17,000 Californians, many of them veterans of the Gold Rush, would serve as Union soldiers out of a total population of less than 400,000.
Wikipedia also has an historical account of the Old Abe Canon under the Volcano, California page:
During the Civil War, Volcano’s gold served the Union. The “Volcano Blues” smuggled the 800 lb cannon “Old Abe,” into the town by hearse, to intimidate rebel sympathizers. “Old Abe” was only fired once during the Civil War. The Confederate faction known as Knights of the Golden Circle owned many of the Main Street businesses. “Old Abe” was fired down Main Street causing windows to break in all the shops that had not been warned – the ones sympathetic to the South.
The Library of Congress has the photo of the Old Abe Canon.
Interestingly, the already low black population of 5.5% in California has actually declined – blacks are also fleeing the state, and in particular, fleeing California’s hellish big cities.
According to California history, Southern California Democrats should be responsible for any reparations, if indeed any payout is authorized.
History matters, and California’s history is quite rich.
View Comments (46)
As a tax paying Californian, how do we stop this abuse on our tax dollars? Can’t believe we are so stupid or should I say our elected officials
Definitely speak up about it! Contact the governor and other elected officials and register your opposition to this ridiculous, illogical waste of taxpayer money.
AMEN
This governor was not elected William, he was installed! Just like the moron currently occupying the WH! Like Katy writes...CA was never a slave state, so this is just another Newsom tax swindle!
First of all to all the ignorant stupid commenter on the reparations acts should know that, just because California was not a slave state there was a lot of systemic racism, discrimination, segregation and a lot of just trying too make sure blacks did not thrive and be in success at life in California! It’s not being said in general or as is literally about slavery it’s about all the injustices in a whole that went along with all the brutalities such as one “SLAVERY”. So in a nut shell people who only seen just slavery as reparations, need to go back and do ur research and understand that slavery meant way more than your grandparents owning my ancestors! It is all the repression and hatred and slavery that make up the reparations.
for starters my ancestors came from foreign countries and never owned slaves so my creed should be exempt don't mull me in with those responsible. I vote no on reperations. I feel sorry for your ancestors, but my race was not responsible.
Vote these idiots out! Reparations imply "repair" as to restore something that is broken to a prior state that was "unbroken." Soooo how about buying property in Africa (the place where everything was magical and "unbroken"), then sending all black people back; hence returning them to their "unbroken" state, and, hence repaired? Certainly would be cheaper and the most efficient remedy. The mythical magic kingdom for black folk. And a TRUE REMEDY. One way ticket. Won't even charge for the denge fever. Good deal, eh?
What point is there in being a Free State if you're going to pay reparations anyway?
Fascinating article. Really puts the lie to any false assertions that have been or will be made about this topic. Glad to know it is now on the record.
Now that you mention it, it seems the MORE a political agenda item is "rooted in stupidity and historical lies" the more our sociopathic Gov Gav and his Ghastly Gang love to push it and embrace it.
Stupidity and lies are two factors but the real root is GREED. You can bet your bottom dollar that the elitists that are pushing this farce plan on fleecing the recipients of everything they have!
Good and informative article. Once again showing the words "woke" and stupid are synonymous.
I identify as black, I'm non binary, my pronouns are yo/mama.
I've been writing my family history so it fits in with the narrative, and if you don't accept it you are a racist.
When should I expect my van loaded with $20s mr Newsom? Mr. T is going to get you if don't follow through.
Ignorance in White Hoodies are on the move! Yes, slavery existed in California, yes land was taken by state officials from numerous Black families here in California, yes redlining played a role in these disvriminatry practices as well. Make it right, restitution is not reparations and the parties responsibile are the state and local governments.
I will be damned if I or my children ever pay a dime to this race based extortion. Neither I or any of my ancestors ever had slaves. Extort money from liberal idiots if you can but you will find that they won't be sympathetic to fictional grievances.
Oh and BTW. Where are my millions for my ancestors who fought against slavery?
Marie, illegal slavery exists in the state today too. There was no sanctioned slavery in the state. Ones ancestors being wronged does not constitute a need for reparation for those who didn't experience that from those that didn't cause that.
Show me you don't understand where state and local governments get their money without saying so...
There’s so much anger in the headline. Not to mention it’s factually inaccurate. I suggest reading The Color of Law. It’s a book that details how Californian ( Los Angeles/ Palto Alto, etc.) participated in creating laws to suppress black people. California government wrongfully took land from Black land owners and some of the land the state still owns and profits from to this day. Here’s a link, I hope it’s helpful to expand your knowledge. https://californiahistoricalsociety.org/blog/california-a-free-state-sanctioned-slavery/
Yes, actually part of that was addressed in the article. Nevertheless, slavery was not practiced officially in this state ever. Whether state and local government took land from black land owners is a different issue and does not involve reparations due to slavery. The state recently did agree to give back land to a black family in Orange County I believe. Wherever those thefts occurred and can be identified, the state and/or local government should restore the property to the owners. That is a far cry from undeserved reparations to people who were not legally enslaved in the State of California.
As a victim of a kidnap/rape by a serial black rapist, do you suppose that I will receive reparations for the heart stopping crime that cast a shadow of fear over every aspect these many decades? My husband's great grand father served as a volunteer for the Union. My great grandfather, a Methodist minister from New England worked to end slavery. All our family, some came as indentured servants, landed in America in the late 1600's and early 1700's. Many of our great great great grandparents served in the new republic's fight for freedom. I will plan to leave the state if any of these plans are implemented. Gavin is such a transparent provocateur.
There’s so much anger in the headline. Not to mention it’s factually inaccurate. I suggest reading The Color of Law. It’s a book that details how Californian ( Los Angeles/ Palto Alto, etc.) participated in creating laws to suppress black people. California government wrongfully took land from Black land owners and some of the land the state still owns and profits from to this day. For example, Allensworth, California was a black owned town that the state of California stole from its rightful land owner and the government currently owns as a “historical landmark” and profits from.
Here’s a few links, I hope they’re helpful to expand your knowledge. https://californiahistoricalsociety.org/blog/california-a-free-state-sanctioned-slavery/
That's all intolerable. But all that went down in the 20th Century.
The California Reparations Plan addresses exactly NONE of it though, because their cut-off date for any kind of reparation benefits is the end of the 19th Century.
I suggest reading the California Reparations Plan.
Lol. This "White Woman" Editor Katy Grimes or whatever her name is wrote this Unaccurate Article while obviously Angry! ???? ???????? African-Americans in California (as well as the entire U.S.A.) reading this Article are all laughing at howAngry you are about US getting reparations Karen...I mean Katy! Lol. Do not quit your Racially Biased Rants on non factual rhetoric!
J D can't make a coherent argument so he attacks Katy Grimes on the basis of her race. It's what angry racist Democrats always do.
Exactly, TJ.
Race baiting is all ya got? Pathetic!