Black families in California Gold Rush town reclaiming land stolen from ancestors

COLOMA, Calif. — (AP) — In a tiny town where the California gold rush began, Black families are seeking restitution for land that was taken from their ancestors to make way for a state park now frequented by fourth graders learning about the state’s history.

Their efforts in Coloma, a town of around 300 people that’s located about 36 miles (58 kilometers) northeast of Sacramento, are one of the latest examples of Black Americans urging the government to atone for practices that have kept them from thriving long after chattel slavery was abolished.

## Black Americans and Reparations
Debates over reparations for African Americans often come back to land. The promise of reparations, initially made but later broken by the U.S. government to formerly enslaved Black people in the mid-1800s, was centered around granting them up to 40 acres of land as restitution for their time enslaved. The fight for restitution in Coloma represents a broader push for justice and acknowledgement of historical injustices faced by Black communities.

## A Call for Comprehensive Reparations
While California has made strides in studying reparations with Governor signing a law to study reparations, advocates in Coloma are pushing for further actions to address the land restitution issue. The history of Black families who settled in Coloma is now gaining recognition, highlighting the need for a more comprehensive understanding of California’s past and the impact on Black families.

## The Legacy of Black Landowners
The stories of families like Nelson Bell and the Monroe-Gooch family in Coloma shed light on the legacy of Black landownership that has often been overlooked. The push for compensation and property returns by descendants like Elmer Fonza and Jonathan Burgess underscores the generational wealth that was denied to these families due to land seizures by the government.

## Legislative Efforts for Restitution
In California, lawmakers are considering reparations proposals, including creating agencies to facilitate research into family lineage and returning unjustly seized land or providing compensation. These efforts reflect a growing acknowledgment of the need to address historical injustices and the impacts of eminent domain, particularly on Black communities.

## The Importance of Land Ownership
State Sen. Steven Bradford emphasized that reparations go beyond monetary compensation, highlighting the critical role of land ownership in building generational wealth for Black families. The recent inclusion of funds for reparations in California’s budget signals a commitment to addressing historical wrongs and working towards a more equitable future.

Associated Press photographer Godofredo A. Vásquez contributed to this report.

Austin is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Follow Austin on X: @sophieadanna