Should Affirmative Action be abolished? Why or why not?

My sister is married to a Native American. She and her husband have believed for a long time that Affirmative Action is a negative thing that holds back those it was intended to help. However, recently their grown children have been shown severe prejudice in the job market. They have now changed their minds and believe that while for many years racial prejudices were at least far beneath the surface, they have resurfaced in the current climate and it is not now possible for people other than whites to get a fair chance when all the rest of the playing field is equal.