Poll Shows Most Californians are Against Slavery Reparations
A recent poll conducted by the University of California, Berkeley, has revealed that the majority of Californians are not supportive of the state issuing cash reparations payments to descendants of slaves.
In a surprising outcome, only 23% of Californians expressed their support for cash reparations, according to a poll from The University of California, Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies (IGS). Among the respondents of the poll, a significant 59% voiced their opposition, with 13% remaining undecided on the matter.
Mark DiCamillo, the director of the poll, noted, “While a majority of California voters believe that Black Americans continue to be affected by the legacy of slavery, our poll is showing that there is no real strong support for cash reparations to deal with the situation.”
Interestingly, the breakdown of support for cash reparations reflected a stark divide along racial and political lines. Predictably, a majority of Black residents were in favor of reparations, while other racial groups showed predominantly negative sentiment. Even among left-leaning respondents, the issue remained divisive, with a 50/50 split.
Cristina Mora, co-director of the Institute of Governmental Studies (IGS), suggested that the lack of consensus among liberals could indicate significant challenges in implementing any form of reparations legislatively.
The findings reveal the racial and political contradictions of California voters. While many can empathize with the plight of Black Americans, not all of these feelings will translate into support for policies that address long-standing racial harms, Mora said. “And though this might be an information issue for some groups, the fact that even liberals are divided indicates that campaigns for racial redress will face a steep uphill climb.”
The concept of slavery reparations in California has been championed by the left for several years, although the state has no historical connection to slavery. In 2020, the state established a California Reparations Task Force, which has proposed various initiatives, including the elimination of child support debt for Black residents.
The estimated cost of reparations in California is staggering, with figures surpassing $800 billion. The task force even recommended compensating Black Californians up to $1 million each, raising concerns about the practicality and ethicality of such a proposal.
