Juneteenth and California’s debate over affirmative action

Communities around California and the nation are gathering this weekend to celebrate Juneteenth, the traditional day marking liberation from slavery. 

It is a day that reminds us that we ought to be equal under the law. And Californians believe opportunity should be based on merit and hard work, not race.

That is why every time the voters of California are asked to change the state constitution to allow for affirmative action, defined as preferential treatment for government jobs or admission to public universities based on background characteristics, they say no. Time and again.

But the debate is reemerging once again — this time in the form of Assembly Constitutional Amendment 7, a proposal that would repeal protections approved by voters in 1996 through Proposition 209.

In that 1996 ballot initiative, Californians rightly established a basic principle: The state shall not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin in public education or government employment.

ACA 7 would roll back those protections by allowing race-based admissions policies at California’s public institutions of higher education.

Supporters of ACA 7 argue that affirmative action is necessary to address past racial injustice and improve representation at universities across the Golden State. While California has a complicated history that included real discrimination and barriers to opportunity, past injustices do not always reflect an individual’s current circumstances or level of disadvantage today.

A student from a wealthy or well-connected background may still receive preferential treatment based on race, while another student from a struggling working-class family may not.

That is why Californians have repeatedly affirmed that merit, hard work and achievement are the fairest standards when evaluating students for admission to public universities.

The reason for voters’ concerns is clear. Californians believe in equal treatment under the law and that students should not receive an admissions advantage or disadvantage based on race or ethnicity. These types of quotas erode public trust, create resentment and force Californians to view one another through the lens of oppressor and oppressed.

Admissions decisions should instead be based on superior academic performance, community involvement, leadership potential and extracurricular achievement. Simply put, merit should remain the guiding principle when applications are reviewed.

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Asian Americans would be among the communities most impacted if ACA 7 is approved by the Legislature and ultimately passed by voters. Across California, many Asian American families place a strong emphasis on education, academic achievement and the belief that hard work should open the door to opportunity, including admission to some of the state’s most competitive public universities.

Policies that weaken merit-based admissions send the wrong message to students who have dedicated themselves to academic success.

California should focus on improving educational outcomes for all students, rather than lowering standards based on background characteristics. If Democrats in Sacramento were serious about addressing inequality, they would invest in struggling schools; expand career and technical education opportunities; and address the affordability crisis facing working families.

Students from disadvantaged backgrounds deserve support and resources that help them compete successfully.

California is one of the most diverse states in America, and that diversity is one of our greatest strengths. That is exactly why we should not tolerate the state putting its thumb on the scale to reward students with preferential treatment based on demographic categories determined by government bureaucrats.

The voters have spoken on this issue. When Democrats backed an effort to overturn Proposition 209 in 2020, the voters said no. ACA 7 ignores that clear message and revives a divisive policy that Californians have consistently opposed.

As a father and as a legislator, I want the next generation to inherit a state where achievement matters most. Californians should strive for equality of opportunity, not equality socially engineered through racial preferences.

Tri Ta is a Republican member of the California Assembly for the 70th district, representing much of Little Saigon.