COLOMA, Calif. – In a small town where the California gold rush began, Black families are seeking restitution for land taken from their ancestors to make way for a state park. This town, Coloma, with about 300 residents, is located 36 miles northeast of Sacramento. The Black families’ efforts are part of a broader movement for reparations to address historical injustices against African Americans.
Reparations discussions often focus on land, reflecting a broken promise from the mid-1800s when the U.S. government pledged, but never delivered, up to 40 acres to formerly enslaved Black people. In Coloma, this fight is occurring in a state where the governor has signed a law to study reparations, though advocates want more action.
Gold was discovered near Coloma in 1848 by James W. Marshall, triggering the gold rush that drew people from various backgrounds, including free and enslaved Black individuals. Later, both Black and white families had their land seized by the government to create the Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park, which opened in 1942.
Recently, the history of Black families in Coloma has gained more attention. In 2020, California State Parks began an initiative to present a more inclusive history, including a webpage detailing Black-owned properties in the park.
Elmer Fonza, a descendant of Nelson Bell, a formerly enslaved man who owned property in Coloma, believes his family is owed the land that was unjustly taken. After Bell’s death in 1869, his estate was sold at auction, and it is unclear what became of his property. Fonza asserts that his family has been denied generational wealth.
Nancy Gooch, another notable figure, was brought to Coloma as an enslaved person in 1849. After gaining freedom, she became a successful landowner. Her descendants, like Jonathan Burgess, are also seeking restitution for seized land, arguing that reconciliation requires acknowledging the truth and making amends.
Restitution could involve compensating families for land that cannot be returned or returning property when possible. This effort is complicated, as families may struggle to prove lineage, highlighting the need for legislative support. Proposed bills in California aim to help Black residents trace their ancestry and seek compensation for unjustly seized land.
The issue of eminent domain misuse has drawn attention, particularly after Los Angeles County returned beachfront property to a Black family in 2022, nearly a century after it was taken. Recently, Governor Gavin Newsom included $12 million in the state’s 2024 budget for reparations legislation, though details on its use are unclear.
State Senator Steven Bradford, who authored the proposals, emphasizes that reparations are fundamentally about restoring land, which is crucial for building generational wealth.