I agree broadly. "Positive discrimination" (as it is called) is still discrimination. Rejecting anyone based on demographic considerations is patently unfair.

I have a theory about all this.

If one assumes that equity and fairness is a baseline, then we have to look at that baseline historically. If we take - for example - racist inequities in recruitment for jobs, then I think we would both accept that for decades, if not centuries, those from ethnic minorities have been discriminated against. The line has been underneath the baseline, giving advantages to white people (well, white men, to be accurate), and this is not right. As society tries to deal with this problem, the line can veer in the other direction, giving an unfair advantage to ethnic minorities. This still isn't right or fair (and let's be honest, the system still broadly favours white men), but it seems to be a part of the process as we head towards the baseline that is fair and equal.

It will settle down, but a by-product of this process is that it will take time to do so.

I think that whilst you are right to highlight this perception of "equality" you still have to accept that the system still broadly favours those that it has always favoured.

The "Rooney Rule" brought into American Football managerial recruitment is an effective way to bypass this. It gives more people from an ethnic minority an opportunity, but whether or not they embrace this opportunity is based ultimately on merit.