CA bill would prioritize descendants of slaves for college admissions

[Lauren Taylor]

A CALIFORNIA LAWMAKER PLANS TO INTRODUCE A BILL TO THE STATE’S ASSEMBLY MONDAY THAT WOULD GIVE ADMISSIONS PRIORITY TO THOSE WHO ARE DESCENDANTS OF SLAVES TO THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AND CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS REPORTS.

ASSEMBLYMEMBER ISAAC BRYAN IS A DEMOCRAT REPRESENTING COMMUNITIES IN LOS ANGELES AND CULVER CITY. HE’S ALSO A MEMBER OF THE CALIFORNIA LEGISLATIVE BLACK CAUCUS.

BRYAN TOLD THE AP HE PLANS TO INTRODUCE THE BILL AFTER NEW MEMBERS ARE SWORN IN AND GATHER FOR A SPECIAL SESSION TO PROTECT CALIFORNIA’S PROGRESSIVE POLICIES BEFORE PRESIDENT-ELECT TRUMP TAKES OFFICE IN JANUARY.

LAST YEAR, THE SUPREME COURT ENDED RACE-BASED ADMISSION AT COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES WHEN JUSTICES REVERSED AFFIRMATIVE ACTION.

HOWEVER, LEGACY ADMISSIONS ARE STILL ACCEPTABLE WHICH CRITICS ARGUE FAVORS ALUMNI CHILDREN AND DONORS, MAKING ADMISSIONS EVEN MORE BIASED AGAINST STUDENTS OF COLOR.

BRYAN TOLD THE AP, “FOR DECADES UNIVERSITIES GAVE PREFERENTIAL ADMISSION TREATMENT TO DONORS, AND THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS, WHILE OTHERS TIED TO LEGACIES OF HARM WERE IGNORED AND AT TIMES OUTRIGHT EXCLUDED,”  HE CONTINUED “WE HAVE A MORAL RESPONSIBILITY TO DO ALL WE CAN TO RIGHT THOSE WRONGS.”

THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA CREATED A BLACK REPARATIONS TASK FORCE – TO STUDY THE EFFECTS OF SLAVERY ON THE STATE AND HOW IT IMPACTS BLACK CALIFORNIANS.

TO DATE, THE TASK FORCE HAS BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL IN GETTING ANY REPARATIONS RECOMMENDATIONS WRITTEN INTO BILLS, PASSED OR SIGNED INTO LAW.

“WHEN FOLKS THINK ABOUT REPARATIONS, THEY THINK ABOUT JUST CASH PAYMENTS. BUT REPAIRING THE HARM AND THE INEQUALITY THAT CAME FROM SLAVERY AND THE POLICIES THEREAFTER IS A MUCH BIGGER PROCESS,” BRYAN SAID.

IN SEPTEMBER, DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR GAVIN NEWSOM VETOED A BILL THAT WOULD HAVE ALLOWED BLACK FAMILIES TO FILE CLAIMS FOR LAND LOST THROUGH DISCRIMINATORY EMINENT DOMAIN PRACTICES.