“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 said in a separate interview with the Associated Press. “We have a moral responsibility to do all we can to right those wrongs.”
Black students made up about 4% of California State University’s student population and about 4.7% at the University of California in 2023, the two school systems affected by the measure.
Bryan said he is optimistic his bill, which has the backing of California’s black reparations task force, will pass.
“There is a growing understanding of California’s role in perpetuating the inequalities that arose from slavery, and there’s a willingness to try to rectify that harm, to heal that harm,” he said.
His push is at odds with President-elect Donald Trump‘s incoming administration, which is likely to make dismantling diversity, equity, and inclusion programs a priority.
Last year, the Supreme Court struck down affirmative action in college admissions, ruling race could not be a factor and forcing higher learning institutions to find new ways to create diverse student bodies.
Opponents of DEI programs argue they are discriminatory and unfairly punish white students. Trump has even hinted that he might fine universities over diversity initiatives. Proponents believe schools should lean into diversity and that students become stronger when they are exposed to and engage with others from different backgrounds.
Bryan’s bill follows several reparation efforts by California lawmakers in the past few years.
In September, Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) signed a law to apologize for racism and discrimination against black residents.
“The State of California accepts responsibility for the role we played in promoting, facilitating, and permitting the institution of slavery, as well as its enduring legacy of persistent racial disparities,” the Democratic governor said in a statement. “Building on decades of work, California is now taking another important step forward in recognizing the grave injustices of the past — and making amends for the harms caused.”
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While Newsom was all in on the apology, he vetoed a bill the legislature passed that would allow for the return of land or compensation to families whose property was unjustly seized by the government.
State lawmakers blocked a bill that would have created an agency to administer reparation programs.
This article was originally published at www.washingtonexaminer.com
