A California lawmaker introduced a bill on Monday that would give the descendants of slaves priority admissions into the University of California and California State University schools, the state’s two public university systems.
The bill would change a precedent set nearly 30 years ago. Since 1996, California’s Proposition 209 has prohibited public schools, including the University of California and California State University, to use race as a factor in the admissions process.
California has long employed race-blind admissions efforts, which consider socio-economic status and location to identify disadvantaged students from immigrant or ethnic backgrounds.
Assemblymember Isaac Bryan, a Democrat representing parts of Los Angeles, told The Associated Press he would introduce the bill on Monday as lawmakers met on Capitol Hill with new members bing sworn in for the incipient legislative session….