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A new bill in California, AB7, aims to allow colleges to give admissions preference to descendants of U.S. slaves. Introduced by Assembly Member Isaac Bryan (D-Los Angeles), the bill passed the state Assembly with a 54-17 vote and now moves to the state Senate. Bryan emphasized that the bill is about addressing the legacy of harm from slavery, not about race. He expressed optimism about the bill becoming law.
If enacted, the bill would permit California's public universities, including the University of California and California State University systems, as well as private colleges, to consider an applicant's status as a descendant of slavery, provided it does not conflict with federal law. However, the bill is expected to face legal challenges. Edward Blum, president of Students for Fair Admissions, argues that the bill essentially constitutes racial discrimination. Blum's organization previously challenged affirmative action policies at Harvard and other institutions, leading to a U.S. Supreme Court decision in 2023 that struck down such policies.
The bill aligns with recommendations from a 2023 California Reparations Task Force report, which called for measures to address historical injustices, including structural racism. Supporters like Kirsten Mullen, a writer and lecturer on race and politics, advocate for "atonement" for the country's past support of slavery, though she distinguishes this from reparations. Mullen argues that preferential treatment in admissions is a step toward greater racial equity.
Critics, including Monica Harris, executive director of the Foundation Against Intolerance and Racism, contend that the bill undermines equal protection under the Fourteenth Amendment by granting preferential treatment based on race. Harris believes that most Black Americans seek equal treatment rather than special preferences.