Affirmative action

Affirmative action is the policy of favoring members of a disadvantaged group who are perceived to suffer from discrimination within a culture. In the United States, affirmative action has been in effect since 1961 preventing employers from discriminating on the basis of "race, creed, color, or national origin." Obviously, the United States today is very different from what it used to be in the 60s.

Do you believe that affirmative action has been mostly negative or positive for the United States, and since the United States has undergone significant changes since its implementation, do you believe that affirmative action should be abolished? Why, or why not?