the problem is that in the vast majority of circumstances there are multiple “best qualified candidates” on the basis of qualifications, experience and skill. how do you decide?
If all things are indeed equal between all candidates, put their names in a drum and choose blindly and randomly. This way POC, women, LGBTQI+ folks, etc get a fair chance against het white men, who still have the deck stacked in their favor. Not affirmative action, but the luck of the draw.
I've actually been interviewing a lot of candidates across our org lately, and not one has been caucasian. It's obviously a DEI initiative by HR, which I think is excessive gate-keeping. That being said, our org has a heavy majority of caucasian employees. At least that imbalance is being addressed.