He did indeed support race-conscious civil rights remedies. Reaching a color blind society requires being conscious about color. There is, unfortunately, abundant proof that the U.S. is not yet a color blind society. Attitudinal studies show that stereotypes are pervasive. These sometimes unconscious stereotypes have an impact on black peoples' opportunities in the real world.
Studies show that negative stereotypes about women persist as well.
They are still, for example, believed to have less leadership ability than men. Some American businesses have had affirmative action programs imposed upon them by courts, but many more have adopted them voluntarily for two main reasons. Firstly, white males make up a minority of the American workforce, so firms that favor white men will find themselves fishing in a shrinking pool of potential employees. Secondly, a diverse workforce creates a competitive corporate edge with consumers of different races and backgrounds. It isn't surprising that among the many organizations that opposed the 1996 public referendum to end affirmative action in California were the California Business Roundtable, the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce and the Los Angeles Business Alliance.