California Assembly member Isaac Bryan plans to introduce a bill granting admission priority to descendants of enslaved people at the University of California and California State University systems.
The proposal, aimed at addressing historical and systemic inequities, aligns with recommendations from California's Black Reparations Task Force.
"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," Bryan told the Associated Press. "We have a moral responsibility to do all we can to right those wrongs."
Black students currently comprise about 4% of CSU's and 4.7% of UC's student populations, AP reported.
The bill aims to rectify past discrimination, particularly in light of the Supreme Court's recent decision banning affirmative action. The legislation also counters conservative pushes to dismantle diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs.
Critics of DEI initiatives argue they are discriminatory, while Bryan and supporters view the bill as a broader effort to repair historical harm. If approved, the measure could set a precedent for reparative policies in higher education.
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