Coloma, CaliforniaIt’s a hot summer evening in July 2021 at the Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park cemetery, final resting site of Coloma’s historical pioneers. Jonathan Burgess and his twin brother, Matthew Burgess, stand at the foot of the grave of their great-great-grandfather, Rufus M. Burgess, reflecting on his legacy. This park, site of the California Gold Rush, is now a source of dispute between an African American family and the state of California over land ownership.

The Gold Rush changed the course of California history and state seizures of land once owned by African Americans has spurred demands for reparations and recognition. In September, Governor Gavin Newsom signed legislation to return a stretch of beachfront property to the descendants