California lawmakers pass bill to grant priority college admission for descendants of slavery

"State lawmakers on Friday advanced a plan that would allow California colleges to offer preferential admission to students who are descended from enslaved people, part of an ongoing effort by Democrats to address the legacy of slavery in the United States. The legislation, Assembly Bill 7, would allow - but not require - the University of California, Cal State and private colleges to give admissions preference to applicants who can prove they are directly related to someone who was enslaved in America before 1900."

""While we like to pretend access to institutions of higher learning is fair and merit-based and equal, we know that it is not," said Assemblymember Isaac Bryan (D-Los Angeles), who authored the bill, before the final vote Friday. "If you are the relative or the descendant of somebody who is rich or powerful or well connected, or an alumni of one of these illustrious institutions, you got priority consideration.""

California advanced Assembly Bill 7 to permit colleges to optionally give admissions preference to applicants who can prove direct descent from someone enslaved in America before 1900. The preference would be allowed but not required for University of California, Cal State and private colleges. The measure is a Legislative Black Caucus priority addressing lingering effects of slavery and systemic racism. Supporters cite inherited advantages and a legacy of exclusion in education. California voters banned consideration of race, sex, ethnicity or national origin in admissions under Proposition 209, and slavery was abolished nationwide with the 13th Amendment in 1865.

Read at Los Angeles Times