During the 1950s and 1960s, major changes took place in civil rights in the United States. In 1964, Congress passed the Civil Rights Act, which aimed to create equal opportunities for the nation's minority groups and eliminate discrimination. Soon after, "the focus of the civil rights movement shifted from the traditional goal of equal opportunity through nondiscrimination alone to affirmative action aimed at establishing 'goals and timetables' for achieving to absolute equality between blacks and whites” (Dye 253). These goals and timetables were cemented by Executive Order No. 11246, issued by President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1965. This executive order is commonly referred to as the foundation of modern affirmative action programs. Today, affirmative action is a very controversial subject, with as many opponents as supporters. Based on the available research evidence and arguments, affirmative action programs remain beneficial and essential to racial equality. It is important that affirmative action programs are maintained in...