Final answer:
The Jim Crow era had a significant impact on the debate over affirmative action. Affirmative action was introduced in the 1960s to counteract past discrimination and promote equal opportunities for marginalized groups. However, some critics argued that these programs amounted to reverse discrimination.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Jim Crow era had a significant impact on the debate over affirmative action. During this time, African Americans faced widespread discrimination and were subjected to Jim Crow laws that enforced racial segregation. Affirmative action was introduced in the 1960s as a means to counteract the effects of past discrimination and promote equal opportunities for marginalized groups.
However, some critics argued that these programs amounted to reverse discrimination, as they believed that affirmative action quotas deprived whites of opportunities. The debate over affirmative action continues to this day, with the fate of these programs still being determined.