The phrase "affirmative thing" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a positive or confirming aspect of a situation or statement.
Example: "The affirmative thing about this proposal is that it aligns with our core values."
Alternatives: "positive aspect" or "confirming element".
That's a big dynamic, so I think that by having it so marginalized, it became an affirmative thing where people were affirming they liked something.
A remark like "Because laughter is such an affirmative thing, it's never a negative thing" contributes little to anyone's understanding of what comedy is and why it matters.
It is not a mere absence of colour; it is a shining and affirmative thing, as fierce as red, as definite as black. . . .
A former Justice Department official entrusted with enforcing civil rights laws refused to hire lawyers whom he labeled as "commies" and transferred another attorney for allegedly writing in "ebonics" and benefiting from "an affirmative action thing," according to an investigation released yesterday by internal watchdogs.
The president is pushing for a second round of tax cuts, the appointment of anti-abortion conservatives to judgeships and the rolling back of affirmative action all things that make Democrats seethe and weep.
Invidious majoritarianism is one thing; affirmative action is another.
What he is particularly interested in is the kinds of things affirmative propositions featuring that verb can refer to, in his words, the type of composition involved in such propositions.
They did it because his signature slogan, "Make America Great Again" was the near textbook code slogan for taking back all the things — affirmative action, civil rights protections, Obama administration job and spending initiatives, and an expansion of government programs for minorities — that supposedly shoved whites to the bottom of the political and economic barrel.
"The real problem in Florida was Jeb's whole thing about affirmative action," the strategist said.
That hiring thing... .. "Affirmative action?" "Yeah that!
Keith Powell, who plays Toofer Spurlock, was asked about his reaction towards his storyline in the "Lee Marvin vs. Derek Jeter" script, in which he said "They kind of warned me about that one – I thought it was a really fun thing because Affirmative Action has permeated corporate culture.
