Where do you stand on affirmative action?

This week Word for Word opens the affirmative action debate. Should race be a consideration in admissions and hiring practices? Some replies in the online discussion:

"Affirmative action is reverse discrimination. There is no other way to look at it. I've seen it up close and personal. Often a lesser qualified candidate gets a position on the basis of race alone. Why should a person be denied a job on the bases of race? [...]" - Don B.

"For too long, whites were given privilege. Now that some people want to extend those same offers to blacks, there is a backlash. It's nonsense. Affirmative action has its place." - Joe T.

Join the discussion to share your perspective.