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And let me make one more point. It would be of enormous value if we could rid our nation of racism in even its simplest forms --I mean derogatory stereotypes of black people and negative attitudes towards them.

We can't do that through education alone. The negative stereotypes and attitudes will only disappear when blacks occupy positions of greater power and prestige. If strong affirmative action can speed up that process, it will have done a great deal of good.

I admit that in the short run affirmative action may increase hostility, but in the long run I think it will have just the opposite effect.

Reference: Lawrence Crocker makes an argument along these lines in section IV of his paper "Preferential Treatment" in Feminism and Philosophy edited by Mary Vetterling-Braggin and others.

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