Affirmative action means to ensure that applicants are employed, and that employees are treated during employment, without regard to their race. In 1565 the colony of Saint Augustine in Florida became the first permanent settlement in North America and included a number of African slaves. That means 2005 is the 40th year from 1965, when America recognized that since 1565 African Americans needed to have past wrongs addressed. African American businesses have the same right.