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Supporters and critics of strong affirmative action disagree about how it works in practice.

Supporters sometimes say that numerical goals require no more than good faith efforts from employers. Other times they say that goals are required to pressure employers to give serious consideration to black applicants. Without plans and goals, they argue, we would slip back into the old discrimination.

Critics argue that goals force employers to hire "by the numbers" with the result that less qualified people are given preference.

What do you need to know in order to decide who is right?