Friend –

Many of us were taught that California was a "free" state. But that’s a lie. Slavery flourished here, just like it did in other parts of the United States. And, this terrible past was deliberately erased from school books.

Last week we launched our new podcast, Gold Chains. It debunks the myth of a "free" California and is a must listen for anyone who wants to be informed about the real history of our state. Gold Chains makes the connections between what happened in the past and the demands today for racial and social justice. Now that we've introduced this pilot episode, you've got access to a powerful new source of information on California's complicity in the enslavement of Black people.

The Gold Chains podcast couldn't be more timely. While some states are desperately trying to keep their record of racial injustices hidden, California has created a task force to examine its role in the enslavement of Black people and come up with proposals for reparations.

Our pilot episode, "California Fugitive Slave Law," examines a racist law that allowed white slaveholders to recapture formerly enslaved Black people and force them to return to bondage in slave states – even though California's constitution banned slavery.

Listen to the show and make sure you are on the lookout for episodes to come.

And if you appreciate what you've heard, please share it with others.

Thanks for listening,

Abdi Soltani
Executive Director, ACLU of Northern California