This was for a government agency only. Although the laws are applicable to all entities, public organizations are subject to much more hiring scrutiny than are private employers. Affirmative Action only works if/when employers want it to work. Many private entities just don't want to vary their workplaces unless they are under public pressure to do so. Even after non-white people are hired, there is no guarantee that they will be treated as others are. Large, private companies generally need to be sued or subject to class action. Even then, corporations tend to have a lot more resources on their side, so they can drag things out longer than plaintiffs may have time to fight.

Wherever you work, keep a keen eye out for who's there, how they got hired (word of mouth or an effort to get a diverse pool of people?) and how they're supervised and treated when they're there. Your objective eye is a great asset.