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The task was daunting, emotionally draining and complicated—economically quantifying how slavery and its aftermath hindered the prosperity of African Americans. When Pierce College Economics Department Chair Kaycea Campbell was asked to serve as a consultant to the California Reparations Task Force, she took on this challenge.
“Part of the reason why I decided to teach was I wanted to have an impact and I also wanted to use the tools I had in economics to enact policy,” Campbell said. “I wanted it to be real. I wanted to see it in print. I wanted it to have some sort of impact on our social framework.”
Campbell shared her knowledge of the reparations calculation process and worked to educate the students about inequality in California at the fourth annual Pierce College Multicultural Day on April 17.
The California Reparations Task Force launched in 2021 and published a report in 2023 recommending hundreds of millions of dollars in monetary reparations, as well as a formal apology for the systemic injustices Black Californians have faced, according to CalMatters.
“Slavery itself is an institution,” Campbell said. “This is about understanding the economic story of slavery and how pervasive the effects are over a long time period.”
Multicultural Day featured more than 15 workshops and events, ranging from an Aztec dance workshop to a presentation about representation and empathy in literature.
“It’s important for students of other cultures to be seen and feel heard,” said Alfredo Sanchez, a Multicultural Day attendee and automotive industrial technology major. “American society hasn’t always been that inviting to other cultures and this helps with the community.”
Multicultural Day was organized by the LAPC Diversity Committee and the theme was “I AM: A Celebration of Identity at Pierce College.”
“Students need to see that there are other identities, allowing them to become part of a cooperative,” said English Professor Maria Bates, a member of the LAPC Diversity Committee. “It’s really impactful for them to see that they have a place and a community that they belong to.”
David Suh, a portrait photographer and content creator with millions of followers on social media, was the Multicultural Day keynote speaker. According to the LAPC Diversity Committee, Suh’s “passion is to show ordinary people that they can be as beautiful as any celebrity on a magazine cover.
“I’m really passionate about helping people feel confident in their body and their identity,” Suh said. “Through my photos, people see the reflection of themselves, of who they want to see.”
Several students participated in Multicultural Day not only as audience members, but also as volunteers and discussion panelists. Business major Ana Abaza, an international student from Peru, spoke about her experiences with audience members at a session moderated by History and Humanities Department Chair Christopher Strickland.
“I like sharing my culture with my friends,” Abaza said. “At Pierce I’ve met amazing people. They’ve been able to share part of who they are with me, too.”
This year’s Multicultural Day took a year to plan and Bates said she looks forward to preparing for next year.
“I’m really thankful for everyone who got involved and gave their time,” Bates said. “It really inspires me to see students here and reinforces my desire to continuously become a better professor.”
