With the adoption of the June 4 motion titled Continuing the Work of Reparations in Los Angeles County, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors has taken steps to address the issue of reparations by acknowledging historical wrongdoings and further committing the county of Los Angeles to being an anti-racist entity.
Systemic racism and discriminatory policies have disproportionately harmed people of color and marginalized communities, especially African-Americans, in the U.S. and in Los Angeles County. The motion is a critical step towards acknowledging the injustices that have shaped the lives of many in local communities including any L.A. County resident who is a lineal descendant of an African-American enslaved person – descendants of enslaved people who were abducted from their African homelands by force to be enslaved in North America – or of a free African-American person living in the United States prior to the end of the 19th Century – “Community of Eligibility Residents.”
In June 2023, the California Task Force to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African Americans, also known as the Reparations Task Force, released its final report. With more than 115 recommendations, the report provides valuable guidance for the county for this important work.
Additionally, in celebration of Juneteenth 2024 and as a representation of the county’s commitment to the hard but necessary work of reparations, the county will provide free admission and access on June 19, 2024, to participating museums and beaches in Los Angeles County to the “Community of Eligibility Residents.”
The Anti-Racism, Diversity, and Inclusion Initiative encourages eligible countyresidents to take advantage of the opportunity. Information and a form is available for eligible residents by visiting ceo.lacounty.gov/ ardi/reparations/#juneteenth2024.