Why should affirmative action be based ONLY on one's racial heritage?

I have to admit that I'd never heard of Paolo Friere, prior to you invoking his name -- so I will have to do some more research on him.

In my view, anyone who "feels uncomfortable" from being taught the realities of history shouldn't view it as a personal attack. The fact that someone feels discomfort upon learning about racial/ethnic atrocities shows that they are humane. I'd be more disturbed, quite frankly, by someone who feels emotionless when hearing about those truths...because that would indicate they've been desensitized to it, and they may be inclined to repeat those atrocities.