Introduced in the 1960s by President Kennedy to address extreme racial gaps in federal employment and higher education, affirmative action now describes policies and practices aimed at preventing discrimination based on race, sex, creed, ability, and national origin. Steele strongly opposes affirmative action, arguing that it maintains the old framework of White supremacy by making Black advancement contingent on White people, in addition to casting people of color as irremediably inferior.

The Great Society refers to a series of programs designed by Lyndon B. Johnson (1908-1973), the 36th President of the United States. The Great Society sought to combat structural inequalities by expanding civil rights, Medicare, aid to education, and other social programs. Steele witnessed a marked decline in education during his time teaching in East St. Louis under the aegis of a Great Society program. This experience, combined with growing poverty and violence in Black communities across the country, persuaded him that race-based entitlements are ineffective. Rather than relying on social programs capitalizing on White guilt and keeping minorities dependent, Steele promotes hard work and personal responsibility as the best paths to Black advancement.