It's odd - often when I talk with international people, they seem to be under the impression that affirmative action doesn't exist outside of their own country.

I was recently talking with someone in China who claimed that the Uighurs could not be oppressed because they are given advantages in hiring/education, and that America would never do the same for black people.

Suffice to say, the US does engage in extensive aff action in education and hiring (although neither are directly legally mandated).