California is taking a bold step towards justice by pushing to ban prisoner labor and provide reparations. This move recognizes the exploitation and oppression that incarcerated individuals have faced for far too long. Let’s support this important initiative and work towards a more equitable future for all.

Did you know that California has allowed prisoners to be used for labor, despite slavery being prohibited since 1850? But now, some legislators are pushing for change. They want prisoners to be paid according to the state’s minimum wage for their labor.

Democratic state Assemblywoman Lori Wilson is leading the charge to outlaw all forms of “involuntary servitude” in the state. She believes that “there is no room for slavery in our constitution. It is not consistent with our values, nor our humanity.”

However, the push to strike the line from the state’s constitution faces an uphill battle. Prisoners make up a significant portion of the firefighting crews used to battle the state’s frequent wildfires.

Meanwhile, the state is also considering giving black residents reparations. Governor Gavin Newsom signed a bill creating a reparations task force in 2020, but he has largely remained silent on whether he would support the current proposals. The proposals call for $360,000 for the roughly 1.8 million black residents with at least one enslaved ancestor in the Golden State.

But the estimated $800 billion cost is roughly 2.5 times the state’s annual budget, and Newsom is currently trying to juggle a nearly $22.5 billion budget deficit for fiscal 2024. The budget deficit likely means programs will see cuts, and the implementation of a reparations program would be a new expenditure for the state.

Despite the challenges, lawmakers in San Francisco have proposed setting aside $50 million to create an office in preparation for handling the San Francisco reparations program, which looks likely to pass. However, the proposed plan has received criticism from many groups and people, including the San Francisco chapter of the NAACP, which argued investment in the black community would be more useful than direct payments.