The San Francisco Board of Supervisors is set to vote on offering a formal apology to the city’s Black residents for decades of racist policies and laws that perpetuated harms.
While this would be a first step, advocates say true atonement requires concrete actions and investments in Black communities, not just symbolic gestures.
“An apology from this city is very concrete and is not just symbolic, as admitting fault is a major step in making amends,” Supervisor Shamann Walton said.
San Francisco has considered various reparations recommendations, including cash payments and guaranteed income, but taken no action so far.
Supporters argue an apology alone does little to remedy disparities like wealth gaps and health issues facing Black residents today.
“That’s why reparations is important in health care,” San Francisco city employee Cheryl Thornton said. “And it’s just because of the lack of healthy food, the lack of access to medical care and the lack of access to quality education.”
Other cities and states have apologized for discrimination but stopping there is insufficient – reparations task forces and legislation aim to pair apologies with policy changes and financial redress.
“An apology is just cotton candy rhetoric,” said the Rev. Amos C. Brown. “What we need is concrete actions.”
