What is Affirmative Action, and Why Does It Matter?

What is Affirmative Action

President Lyndon Johnson explained the rationale behind the use of affirmative action to achieve equal opportunity in a 1965 speech: "You do not take a person, who for years, has been hobbled by chains and liberate him, bring him up to the starting line of a race and then say 'you are free to compete with all the others,' and still believe that you have been completely fair."

The debate over affirmative action carries with it enormous implications for the lives of women and people of color, since such programs have created opportunities too long denied them.

Why Affirmative Action Matters

Polls indicate that most Americans favor continuing affirmative action programs. A growing number of public figures, including Democrats and Republicans, corporate CEOs, business owners, and university presidents have spoken out in favor of affirmative action. However, the misinformation or mischaracterization of affirmative action programs creates confusion.