Final answer:
The statement from the documentary 'Brazil in Black and White' about European-looking students applying as black under the quota system reflects the challenges and debates surrounding affirmative action in university admissions, to promote diversity and address historical injustices.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the documentary Brazil in Black and White, on the day of the university admission photo session, it was observed that a surprising number of European-looking students applied as black under the recently adopted quota system. This question addresses the complexities and controversies that have arisen as a result of affirmative action policies in university admissions, both in the United States and Brazil. These policies have been designed to correct historical injustices and encourage diversity in educational environments. Historical cases such as the Supreme Court decision in Regents of the University of California v. Bakke highlighted the legal debates around racial quotas and affirmative action. Similarly, in Brazil, efforts to encourage black enrollment and create a more racially diverse student body have led to nuanced situations where race and self-identification become complex, and affirmative action policies are scrutinized.