Bill: In 1969 I was teaching in an inner-city high school in Riverside, California.  The issue of affirmative action arose regarding "advanced placement" courses.  I presented the following idea which was adopted and worked.

1) We determined the percentage makeup of the student body (Black, Hispanic and non-Black/Hispanic.  We had almost a 1/3, 1/3 1/3 composition as it turned out.
2)  We determined the seats available in the classes....36 was the number used.
3)  The affected Departments chose their enrollment using those percentage figures.
4)  Minorities were "equally" represented based on their percentage of the school enrollment.
5) It worked out well, since there was no "unfair" affirmative action and no basis for claims of racial or ethnic discrimination.  

As, I think,you and I agree, we need to address racial/ethnic/sexist discrimination while, at the same time, working to be fair, rather than punitive, in so doing.  best regards, Gary