The quote is correct. "Non-merit factors" certainly created the imbalances. If not, 52% of senior managers in the US would be female, 13% percent would be of Hispanic origin, and 12% would be African-American. Historically, we (people in general) have made selections for positions based upon gender (i.e., male) and membership in the population group holding the power rather than upon merit factors. This is almost entirely because selecting officials, given the choice and all else being equal, select candidates for jobs who most resemble themselves. Your idea that I favor any specific ethnic group is entirely wrong, and I agree entirely that "the best and the brightest" should have the college spots and the subsequent jobs, and I never said or implied otherwise.