Reason for affirmative action?
The answer will be slavery 200 years ago, institutional bias, white supremacy, etc. That quote from the democrat that black people can't make it without continual social aid is really something else.
The problem is - at what point of getting extra special treatment does this go away? That is the issue...50 years of social engineering now and no progress. These policies at best were to be a helping hand not a deterrent to being integrated as normal citizens.
Since the late 60s things are actually worse overall for black people....outside of music and sports pay of course. The family unit has been decimated.