What exactly is affirmative action?

affirmative action does not only contribute to race but gender, age, etc..all the things we are NOT suppose to take into effect when hiring a person;; so, ironically, they came up with affirmative action to 'make sure' the people who were being disciminated against, were being placed in the jobs (or now schools) BECAUSE they were of a minority...so, pick your choice, afirmative action, diversity, whatever you want to call it..most people feel the job should be given to the person that can actually do the job & NOT because of the reasons that laws were made to curtail things like this..ironic, no?? but what they were trying to do was to place people in jobs & "not look" like they were favoring one race, gender, age group over another...well, now look what we've got...possibly a lot of people that don't truly 'qualify' for the job..possibly more law suits because of this new 'rule' applied...well, I guess I'm not neutral..but I truly believe in a good work ethic, not a good 'feel-sorry-for campaign'...