Affirmative action remains a controversial topic in American politics. One argument against affirmative action is that it disrupts a system of merit so that less-qualified applicants who represent racial minorities are selected. Is this a fair criticism of affirmative action in light of the fact that a system of preferences operated for much of American history in which qualified white applicants were always preferred over qualified black applicants? Is a merit-based system possible, given the history of discrimination, the accumulation and transfer of wealth via inheritance, and our nation’s history?

Affirmative action remains a controversial topic in American politics. One argument against affirmative action is that it disrupts a system of merit so that less-qualified applicants who represent racial minorities are selected. Is this a fair criticism of affirmative action in light of the fact that a system of preferences operated for much of American history in which qualified white applicants were always preferred over qualified black applicants? Is a merit-based system possible, given the history of discrimination, the accumulation and transfer of wealth via inheritance, and our nation’s history?