Civil Rights Attorney Lisa Holder Underscores Systemic Nature of Reparations

A Black Marin County homeowner’s experience in 2021 highlighted racial bias in property appraisal. After renovations, their home was drastically undervalued. However, when a white friend posed as the homeowner, the appraisal increased significantly, exposing systemic inequity.

This case underscored the work of California’s 2020 reparations task force, which investigates systemic racism’s lasting impact. Lisa Holder, Equal Justice Society president, views such incidents not as isolated events but as symptomatic of a persistent problem. She counters the “post-racial” narrative with data showing ongoing disparities for Black and brown communities due to historical inequality.

The task force’s 2023 report contained over 100 policy recommendations, including financial compensation and reforms across sectors. Recent legislation includes a formal apology for California’s role in perpetuating slavery, acknowledging the state’s enforcement of fugitive slave laws and the enslavement of over 2,000 people even after statehood in 1850. Holder emphasizes the importance of apologies in reparations, shifting blame from victims to the institutions responsible for harm and oppression.

Holder, a prominent civil rights lawyer for over two decades, has addressed education equity, employment discrimination, and constitutional policing. Her involvement in a 2019 lawsuit led to the removal of SAT/ACT requirements for University of California admissions, a key step in advancing her broader mission of systemic change.

While acknowledging the challenges and controversies surrounding reparations, Holder maintains that their moral imperative is undeniable. She emphasizes that reparations encompass more than financial compensation; they necessitate systemic reform to prevent future harm.