Princeton University Press discriminates on the basis of race in handing out book grants

The Washington Free Beacon reports that Princeton University Press (which is independent of Princeton University) is handing out book development grants based on race. It’s doing so under a program called "Supporting Diverse Voices."

The program pairs authors with "book coaches" who help them write book proposals. It’s limited to “BIPOC” (Black, Indigenous, and people of color) scholars. Thus, Princeton University Press isn’t just “supporting diverse voices.” It’s doing so to the exclusion of other voices.

In exchange for the coaching, "grantees agree to give [Princeton University Press] the right to consider the resulting proposals exclusively, before they are submitted to any other publishers for consideration." Accordingly, this arrangement is a contractual one.

Under federal law:

All persons within the jurisdiction of the United States shall have the same right in every State and Territory to make and enforce contracts, to sue, be parties, give evidence, and to the full and equal benefit of all laws and proceedings for the security of persons and property as is enjoyed by white citizens.

By limiting its “book coaches” contracts to members of certain racial groups, Princeton University Press seems clearly to be violating this law.

The Free Beacon points out that the Princeton University Press program is “part of the parade of race-conscious programs, both public and private, that have swept through the United States since 2020.” It notes that the Biden administration denied pandemic relief funds to white-owned restaurants, while state governments and private hospitals rationed scarce COVID treatments based on race. In addition, major corporations, including Pfizer, Amazon, Google, and Starbucks, have come up with minority-only fellowship programs.

The American Civil Rights Project (on whose board I serve) has been a leader in challenging the latter set of programs. The Free Beacon quotes the group’s leader, Dan Morenoff, as well as board member and distinguished law professor Gail Heriot, both of whom say that the Princeton University Press program is almost certainly illegal.

According to the Free Beacon, most academic publishers have steered clear of discrimination as overt as that of the Princeton University Press. It points to a grant program at MIT Press that focuses on "excluded and chronically underrepresented" groups, but does not specify any racial criteria for the grants.

Programs like that one may not be low-hanging fruit to the same degree as Princeton’s. However, they will not be exempt from scrutiny.