Why White Americans Oppose Affirmative Action
A Group-Interest Approach
Brian S. Lowery, Miguel M. Unzueta, and Eric D. Knowles
Latino Policy and Issues Brief, Number 15
April 2007

Previous research on opposition to affirmative action policies has paid insufficient attention to the role of group interest. This brief suggests that white opposition to affirmative action is the product of the desire to protect fellow whites.