Logo - Feel The Words

Affirmative Action Quotes

Debate, definition, and personal experience with a contested policy

These affirmative action quotes reflect a genuinely contested topic - one voice pushes back against the claim that the policy fails to achieve results, another points out that people don't even agree on what it means, and a third speaks candidly about personally being hired under such a policy. Related perspectives on opportunity appear in Bette Midler quotes.

The third fallacy is that affirmative action doesn't work.

Quotes by Harold Washington

I don't know what this definition of affirmative action is for some.

Quotes by Chaka Fattah

I am an affirmative action hire.

Quotes by Anna Quindlen

Frequently Asked Questions

What is one common criticism addressed in these quotes?
One voice directly challenges the claim that the policy fails to achieve its intended goals.
Why is there disagreement about what this policy means?
Definitions and interpretations vary widely depending on political perspective, making consensus about its scope difficult.
What does it mean to be hired under such a policy?
It refers to being hired under a program intended to broaden opportunity for historically underrepresented groups.
Is this a settled or ongoing debate?
It remains an ongoing and often polarizing policy discussion, with strong views on multiple sides.
Where can I find more quotes about opportunity and fairness?
Quotes tagged under Lungs also touch on struggle and access under difficult circumstances.

However people view it, affirmative action remains a policy debated as much for its definition as its outcomes. See more in Cyclist quotes.