Final answer:
In the 1970s, affirmative action and busing were implemented as strategies to promote racial equality, stemming from civil rights efforts and legislation like the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Option A is the correct answer.
Step-by-step explanation:
During the 1970s, two new means for promoting racial equality emerged as significant efforts to address past injustices and discrimination. These were affirmative action and busing. Affirmative action refers to programs and policies put in place to assist historically discriminated groups by increasing their representation in higher education and the workforce. Busing, on the other hand, was a method used to promote the integration of public schools by transporting students to schools outside their local district to break down the barriers of segregation. Both measures faced significant controversy, with affirmative action in particular being criticized by some as 'reverse discrimination', leading to debates over the proper role of such programs in American society.
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 and other legislation like the Voting Rights Act of 1965 were important precursors to these actions, outlawing discrimination and aiming to ensure equal opportunities. Although affirmative action and busing were contentious, they were part of the broader movement towards racial integration and equality in America initiated by grassroots efforts and later supported through legislation.