Isn't this antithetical to the ideals of equality (chosen by our merits rather than our skin color)? And isn't this sending a terrible message: "you weren't goo

Isn't this antithetical to the ideals of equality (chosen by our merits rather than our skin color)? And isn't this sending a terrible message: "you weren't good enough for this job before as I was but now I feel sorry for you." Seems counterproductive.