To some, though, it may very well be true. But that's an issue with today's slogan- and owning-the-other-side- based discourse. For what it's worth, I agree with you that merits alone should make the hiring decision.
As someone you'd probably label "woke," I think we should also acknowledge that it is entirely possible and common that inherent bias makes that difficult for white people in hiring positions. Yes, that can happen with ageism as well.
Every choice we make is like compound interest. Make choices that are 1% better, and over time, the cream will rise to the top. Make choices that are 1% worse, end up on Maury or Springer.
And this "social justice," this putting of fingers upon the scales, is a kangaroo court. Of all the effort that has been expended to get more minorities & women into software, how much effort has been spent to get more asians into the NFL & NBA? It is no justice. It is that there are more black & women voters than there are asian ones. It is the mob voting itself a benefit.
I don't see how what happened to my granddaddy, for good or for ill, has any bearing on my ability to practice, practice, practice, get good, and make it. As of 2015-16, NBA was 81.7% black.
Software is no different. The best tools are free. Internet is near-ubiquitous. A serviceable machine can be had for lawn-mowing money. There is no excuse.
No, it stopped millions of them.