Affirmative action. History of an idea

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Critics of affirmative action say that it pits Americans against each other and elevates the importance of race, gender, and ethnicity at the expense of hard work and merit. Supporters claim that discrimination remains pervasive in the U.S. and that the government must continue to play a role in aiding minorities and women. This program explores the historical roots of affirmative action and the debate over its usefulness. The program looks at several different affirmative action programs, from the University of California, Berkeley, where the university struggles with how to maintain diversity without minority preferences, to the city of Chicago, whose affirmative action programs for its police and fire departments have been challenged. The program includes archival footage and features interviews with a wide array of academic scholars.