Some thoughts for Kevin and others. If you haven't read the book When Affirmative Action was White, by Ira Katznelson I would highly recommend it. It describes the ways that New Deal programs, the education system and the GI Bill systematically discriminated in favor of whites in the 1930s, 40s, and 50s. Hence "affirmative action" exited for white people. The gap between White and Black income actually expanded after WWII as a result of this phenomenon.

By the way, as a white male, I remember feeling a bit unwelcome by all of the statements that essentially said everyone except white men are strongly encouraged to apply. Yet, somehow, I still got the job, house, etc. As a matter of fact a month or two after I was hired my supervisor told someone else that I was White and male and that is why he hired me. Talk about people wondering if they really got the job as a result of their accomplishments. . .