Historic Apology: San Francisco Acknowledges and Regrets Decades of Systemic Discrimination against Its Black Residents
In a significant move towards acknowledging and repairing the past, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors unanimously passed a resolution on Tuesday, February 28, 2023, during the last week of Black History Month. The resolution includes a formal apology to the city’s Black residents and their descendants for the systemic and structural discrimination, targeted acts of violence, and atrocities they have endured over decades.
A Long-Awaited First Step towards Healing
Supervisor Shamann Walton, who introduced the resolution last fall as one of more than 100 recommendations from the city’s African American Reparations Advisory Committee, described it as “historic” and “long overdue.” He emphasized that although this was just a first step, it signified the city’s commitment to addressing past policies and misdeeds.
Acknowledging Past Discriminatory Actions
The apology is not the first for San Francisco. In 2022, during the Lunar New Year, the Board of Supervisors passed a resolution formally apologizing to its Chinese residents for discriminatory actions taken in the city’s past. San Francisco is the second major US city to issue such an apology, following Boston, which did so in 2022, acknowledging its role in the trans-Atlantic slave trade and the ongoing detrimental impacts on Boston’s Black community.
A Commitment to Repair and Heal
The resolution states that the city is committed “to the rectification and redress of past policies and misdeeds.” The apology is an essential component of corrective action and a milestone in the healing process for the Black community. Tinisch Hollins, former vice-chair of the African American Reparations Advisory Committee, expressed her appreciation for the apology on public record.
A Blueprint for Equity and Healing
The San Francisco Reparations Plan, which includes the apology, outlines over 100 ways for the City of San Francisco to demonstrate its sincerity by proactively creating pathways to equity for Black San Franciscans. Hollins emphasized that this plan should serve as a blueprint for the next century.
A Continuous Journey Towards Equity
Although this is a significant step forward, there is still a long way to go. The apology marks the beginning of a commitment by the city to substantial ongoing, systemic, and programmatic investments in Black communities to address historical and present harms. The journey towards equity is continuous, and this apology signifies the city’s dedication to walking that path together with its Black residents.
Previous Coverage
For more information on the reparations committee’s recommendations and California Governor Gavin Newsom’s response, please refer to these previous articles:
- us/california-governor-reparations-payments-black-residents/index.html” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener”>California governor responds to recommended reparations payments for Black residents
- us/san-francisco-chinese-american-apology/index.html” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener”>San Francisco becomes fourth city in California to apologize to Chinese community for racist past
