What case was the first major challenge to affirmative action?

The first major challenge to affirmative action was the 1978 Supreme Court case Regents of the University of California v. Bakke. Allan Bakke, a white applicant, argued that he was denied admission to the University of California, Davis, Medical School due to the school's affirmative action program, which set aside spots for minority applicants. The Court ultimately ruled that while affirmative action programs could be permissible, rigid quotas based on race were unconstitutional, marking a significant moment in the legal landscape of affirmative action. This case set the stage for ongoing debates and legal challenges surrounding the practice.