Agenda - 02-02-2021 Virtual Board Meeting; 8-a - Minutes

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15 1 Consequently, many Black veterans returning from the wars were unable to benefit from the GI 2 Bills VA loans. Redlining, blockbusting, restrictive covenants, predatory contract sales practices 3 all served to deprive Black people of building economic wealth, and kept neighborhoods racially 4 segregated. Today, the average net worth of white families and black families continues to be 5 disproportionate. 6 7 The proposed Resolution in support of Reparations for Black/African Americans is seen as a 8 way forward to address and give redress to the unfulfilled promises in the Constitution of the 9 United States "that all men are created equal," and to the subsequent Amendments, including 10 the 13th for the government to use its authority to remove all badges and incidents of slavery so 11 that Black people can enjoy the full complements of rights of citizenship. 12 13 Commissioner Dorosin said he is grateful this resolution is being brought forward. He 14 said the 13th amendment abolished slavery, but it also included an exception for those convicted 15 of a crime, which has enslaved people of color in a different way. 16 Commissioner Hamilton said this resolution is important to remind everyone of American 17 history, and how it was built on the exploitation of people, particularly those of African descent. 18 She said this exploitation has continued and is embedded in many institutions, leading to many 19 disparities in outcomes. She said resolutions are words, and actions are just as important. 20 Annette Moore, Human Rights and Relations Director, said she is honored to be 21 employed by Orange County, and thanked the BOCC for bringing this issue to the table. She 22 reviewed the Board's commitment to addressing racism, as well as the history of ongoing 23 systemic racism throughout the country, which is in direct conflict with the 13th amendment. She 24 said the 13th amendment made a promise of reparations. She asked the BOCC to pass the 25 resolution. 26 Chair Price read the resolution below: 27 28 RES-2020-073 29 30 ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS 31 RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF REPARATIONS FOR BLACK/AFRICAN AMERICANS 32 33 WHEREAS, on December 6, 1865, the United States Congress ratified the 13th Amendment to 34 the Constitution thus abolishing slavery in the United States, stating: "Neither slavery nor 35 involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly 36 convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction"; and 37 38 WHEREAS, the 13th Amendment, along with subsequent Constitutional Amendments, civil 39 rights legislation and voting rights acts have sought to recognize and establish equality for 40 people of the Black African diaspora who had been unjustly enslaved and oppressed prior to 41 and since the founding of the United States of America; and 42 43 WHEREAS, Black/African Americans nevertheless have been segregated, marginalized, 44 disenfranchised, wrongfully incarcerated and lynched through intentional policies and practices 45 including Jim Crow laws, racial terror and the exception clause in the 13th Amendment; and 46 47 WHEREAS, Black/African Americans have been denied equal access to education and skills 48 development, healthcare, housing, mortgages, neighborhoods, job opportunities and 49 advancement, government grant and loan programs for farms and businesses, and equal rights 50 and equal protections under the law; and