California Bill Prioritizes Descendants of Slaves in Admissions

California Bill Prioritizes Descendants of Slaves in Admissions \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ California lawmaker Isaac Bryan introduced legislation to grant admission priority to descendants of slaves at public universities, aiming to address historical discrimination. The bill coincides with efforts to protect diversity initiatives amid anticipated rollbacks under President-elect Trump’s administration. Critics argue the measure defies California’s ban on affirmative action, while supporters frame it as a step toward reparations.

California’s Reparations Push in Higher Education: Quick Looks

• New Legislation: Assemblymember Isaac Bryan proposed admission priority for descendants of slaves at California universities.
• Moral Argument: Bryan says it addresses historical exclusion and aligns with reparations goals.
• Legal Hurdle: California bans race-based preferences in public education under a 1996 ballot measure.
• Diversity Under Threat: Trump’s incoming administration aims to dismantle DEI programs nationwide.
• Historical Context: Critics liken legacy admissions to affirmative action for privileged groups.
• Past Attempts: Similar efforts include Georgetown University’s admissions policy for slave descendants.
• Reparations Roadblocks: Previous California reparations proposals saw mixed outcomes under Gov. Newsom.
• National Trends: States like Kansas and Iowa passed laws restricting DEI programs in universities.

Deep Look: California Bill Prioritizes Slave Descendant Admissions Amid National Tensions

California Assemblymember Isaac Bryan introduced a groundbreaking bill Monday to prioritize university admissions for descendants of slaves at the University of California (UC) and California State University (CSU) systems. The legislation seeks to address systemic inequalities stemming from slavery and aligns with California’s broader reparations efforts.

A Reparative Step in Education

Bryan, a Democrat representing parts of Los Angeles, framed the measure as a moral imperative. “For decades universities gave preferential admission treatment to donors and their families while ignoring legacies of harm,” he told The Associated Press. “We have a moral responsibility to do all we can to right those wrongs.”

The proposal permits, but does not mandate, preferential treatment for slave descendants, a distinction Bryan hopes will navigate California’s legal landscape. Proposition 209, a 1996 ballot measure, bans affirmative action by prohibiting race-based preferences in public education, employment, and contracting. Although voters upheld the ban in 2020, Bryan’s proposal builds on recommendations from California’s Black Reparations Task Force.

Legacy Admissions and DEI Under Fire

The bill lands amid intensified debates over diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs in higher education. President-elect Donald Trump has pledged to dismantle DEI initiatives, echoing a nationwide push to restrict such efforts in colleges and workplaces. In 2023, the Supreme Court’s ruling against affirmative action in admissions further reshaped the legal framework, emboldening opponents of race-conscious policies.

Legacy admissions, which typically favor alumni and donor families, have faced growing scrutiny. Critics argue they disproportionately benefit wealthy white students, exacerbating inequities in college admissions. Bryan’s proposal seeks to counter this by extending a similar priority to a historically marginalized group.

Historical and National Context

Bryan’s measure draws parallels to Georgetown University’s 2016 policy granting admission preferences to descendants of slaves once owned by Maryland Jesuits. However, California’s legal and political landscape presents unique challenges.

California has already made notable, though uneven, progress on reparations. In September, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed legislation apologizing for the state’s history of racism and discrimination. Yet lawmakers blocked the creation of a reparations agency, and Newsom vetoed a bill to help Black families reclaim land unjustly seized through eminent domain.

Nationally, states like Kansas and Iowa have banned DEI offices in higher education, while Republican lawmakers in 24 states proposed at least 50 bills targeting DEI programs in 2023. Trump’s incoming administration, featuring former advisor Stephen Miller as deputy chief of policy, is expected to escalate these efforts.

Trump’s Plans and California’s Opposition

President-elect Trump has vowed to eradicate “wokeness” in education, proposing to fine universities that defy his agenda. He also plans to cut funding for noncompliant schools, though legal experts question the feasibility of such sweeping actions without congressional approval.

Trump has also targeted the Department of Education, describing it as infiltrated by “radicals, zealots, and Marxists.” His nominee to lead the department, Linda McMahon, shares Trump’s vision of overhauling or dismantling federal education oversight altogether.

California’s Diverse Student Demographics

Black students made up just 4% of CSU’s student population and 4.7% at UC in 2023, highlighting the stark underrepresentation of African Americans in California’s largest public university systems. Bryan believes prioritizing admissions for slave descendants could begin to address this disparity while sending a powerful message about equity.

The Road Ahead

Bryan’s proposal will undergo a rigorous legislative process, with debate expected over its alignment with California’s ban on affirmative action and its broader implications. The timing is significant, given the anticipated rollback of DEI programs under Trump’s administration and the ongoing national reckoning over reparations.

“When folks think about reparations, they think about just cash payments,” Bryan said. “But repairing the harm and the inequality that came from slavery and the policies thereafter is a much bigger process.”

With Trump’s incoming policies threatening California’s progressive efforts, the bill represents both a challenge to federal conservatism and a test of the state’s commitment to addressing historical injustices.

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