The California Reparations Task Force is asking the Democrat-controlled state legislature to eliminate interest on past-due child support, as well as any back child support debt for Black residents of the state.

In its final report released last week, the group claimed "discriminatory" laws "have torn African American families apart," and that one effect of that is the "harms" caused by "the disproportionate amount of African Americans who are burdened with child support debt." 

The nearly 1,100-page document stated that Black Californians represent a larger percentage of those who owe child support debt than their proportion of the state's population. 

It also claimed the 10% interest the state charges on back child support "hinders" their ability to finance further education, attend job training, find employment and maintain housing because of the legal consequences of not paying such debt.

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The report cited a 2003 California Department of Child Support Services study that estimated 27% of owed child support in the state was unpaid interest, that those who owed child support had lower incomes than "the typical California worker" and that such interest required a larger portion of their income to actually pay the debt.

"The Task Force recommends that the Legislature enact legislation to terminate all interest accrued on back child support, requiring only the payment of the principal owed. At a minimum, the proposal recommends that the Legislature eliminate the prospective accrual of interest on child support debt for low-income parents," the report said. 

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"The Task Force further recommends that the Legislature amend Family Code section 17560, the 'offers in compromise' provision, to allow for offers in compromise and forgiveness of child support debt based solely on a parent’s fnancial (sic) circumstances and ability to pay," it added.

The report is a culmination of two years of research done by the task force into what it says is the historical discrimination faced by Black Californians and their ancestors in the state. 

It also offers a broad account of the ways it accuses the state of wronging descendants of Black slaves.

The state legislature will now determine what aspects of the report, including monetary compensation for Black residents, it will approve or deny.

The U.S. Military Academy at West Point is an academy of higher education in which commissioned officers are trained as leaders for the United States Army. 

And on this day in history, July 4, 1802, the U.S. Military Academy first opened in West Point, New York. 

Typically, 1,200 prospective cadets are admitted each year, according to Britannica.

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The idea for an American military school came from General Henry Knox in 1776.

General George Washington and Alexander Hamilton quickly backed the idea, according to Britannica. 

The Revolutionary War brought attention to the ongoing need for American youth to be developed and trained to be military leaders. 

At the time, however, then-Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson did not see eye to eye with Washington and Hamilton in regard to having an institution of higher education dedicated to the training of officers for the Army, according to West Point. 

It wasn’t until Jefferson became president of the United States that he recognized that defending the republic against potential invasion was of prime importance.

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He signed legislation to establish the U.S. Military Academy on March 16, 1802, according to Britannica. 

The first class of five officers and 10 cadets would enroll in the school for the U.S. Corps of Engineers. 

The United States Military Academy at West Point officially opened as an apprentice school for military engineers, according to Britannica. 

Student would engage not only in physical training but also study to become engineer officers. 

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The location of West Point has been occupied with troops since 1778 — considered the most strategic location in America during the American Revolution by Washington himself, according to West Point. 

The location of the academy held great significance, as the Hudson River Valley was key territory to possess during the Revolutionary War. 

Washington established his headquarters on the land in 1779 shortly before Major General Benedict Arnold attempted to hand it to the British, according to Britannica. 

After the failed attempt, Washington made sure that West Point was never seized. 

Today, fewer than 10% of applicants are typically accepted to the academy with the total enrollment of roughly 4,400, according to Britannica. 

Those eligible for academy acceptance must be at least 17 years old, but no older than 23.

They must also be a U.S. citizen, not married, not pregnant and not legally responsible for child support, according to West Point. 

"Since its founding over two centuries ago, the military academy has accomplished its mission by developing cadets in four critical areas: intellectual, physical, military and moral-ethical — a four-year process called the ‘West Point Experience,’" according to the academy's website.

"Specific developmental goals are addressed through several fully coordinated and integrated programs."

The site also explains, "A challenging academic program that offers 37 majors provides a balanced education in the arts and sciences. All cadets receive a Bachelor of Science degree, which is designed specifically to meet the intellectual requirements of a commissioned officer in today's Army."

The motto of the U.S. Military Academy is "Duty, Honor, Country" — "a striking expression of West Point's time-honored ideals," according to West Point itself.

That motto is embedded in the academy's coat of arms.

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Notes the academy, "A favorite expression at West Point is that ‘much of the history we teach was made by people we taught.’ Great leaders such as Grant and Lee, Pershing and MacArthur, Eisenhower and Patton, Westmoreland and Schwarzkopf are among the more than 60,000 graduates of the military academy. Countless others have served society in the fields of medicine, law, business, politics, and science following their careers in uniform."