It is in a nation's best interest to ensure social stability and tranquility. To do so, all groups within that society must attain equal social and economic standing with all others. Certainly, not every racial group retains equal social standing in comparison with all others due to circumstances beyond such groups' control. Therefore, in the interests of racial and social harmony, institutions must act to establish a baseline for opportunity in order to accelerate the rates of success for those in society. This means deferring the interests of those whose circumstances are already favorable, and instead promoting the interests of those not experiencing equal success.
Affirmative action has very little to do, in practice, with righting historical wrongs.
At its core, it recognizes the value of social stability as found in equality of opportunity and outcome. It observes that increasing typical middle-class opportunities of college and professional job placement is the best and most expedient way to attain such equalities of outcome. While certainly historical injustices have contributed to the creation of the inequality of outcome for blacks, affirmative action works in society as it now stands. Therefore, any criticism of the program on historical merits fails to grasp affirmative action's full motives or full effects. Yes, it addresses injustice with a 350-year history.