David and Goliath: Underdogs, Misfits, and the Art of Battling Giants

Exactly the same logic applies to the
debate over affirmative action. In the
United States, there is an enormous
controversy over whether colleges and
professional schools should have lower
admissions standards for disadvantaged
minorities. Supporters of affirmative
action say helping minorities get into
selective schools is justified given the
long history of discrimination.
Opponents say that access to selective
schools is so important that it ought to be
done purely on academic merit. A group
in the middle says that using race as the
basis for preference is a mistake—and
what we really should be doing is giving
preference to people who are poor.