I don't know you from anyone else, and you may have gotten all you say by out competing all others (of all races). I will say, though, that the only time in my life that I really felt burned by the idea of affirmative action was when I took the PSATs. I scored a 202. As I was looking at my score it listed the required score to be awarded national merit scholar. It had 3 different categories "white/asian = 204", "Hispanic = 162", "African American = 127". I was freaking pissed (it was also my first encounter with dividing races). National merit scholar (at the time) was pretty much a full ride to many colleges so it was a pretty big deal to me. I ended up getting a free ride to the college of my choice (which I subsequently turned down, but that is another story, suffice to say I wasn't as smart as my PSATs said I was), so I guess it worked out, but at that moment in time, I didn't know that so I don't think that I will ever forget that moment.