Final answer:
Affirmative action is a policy designed to address historical and systemic inequalities by promoting equal opportunities. It involves taking proactive steps to increase the representation of underrepresented and historically excluded groups.
Step-by-step explanation:
Affirmative action is a policy designed to address historical and systemic inequalities by promoting equal opportunities. It is not a policy that discriminates against certain groups or favors only one specific demographic group. Affirmative action can take different forms depending on the context, but it generally involves taking proactive steps to increase the representation of underrepresented and historically excluded groups in areas of employment, education, and other fields.