Affirmative action is one of the most controversial social policy issues to emerge in America in recent years. Ironically, both proponents and detractors of affirmative action generally profess agreement on the same overall goal: The United States should ensure equal opportunity for all its citizens in employment, education, and business opportunities. Supporters argue that, because of past and present discrimination against women and minorities, affirmative action programs in government, businesses, and schools are necessary to secure equal opportunity for these social groups. Opponents, however, contend that affirmative action in practice has evolved into a system of racial and gender preferences that exacerbate racial divisions and result in “reverse discrimination” against white males. Both sides accuse the other of misleading the public over the actual workings of affirmative action programs and of failing to uphold the equal opportunity ideal.

The term &ldquo...