Addressing economic inequality: the mission of the Fearless Fund and the fight for civil rights

The soul of the civil rights movement, historically a quest for equal justice under the law, is experiencing an evolution. Today, that soul beats with the urgency of closing a daunting economic divide that exists between Black and white Americans. As we trace the ripples of systemic racism that sprawl across the economic landscape, the significant wealth disparity between these communities becomes starkly evident—a testament to centuries of unequal opportunity and discriminatory practices.

In the resonant words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., “We are coming to get our check,” echoes a demand that still rings true today. The Fearless Fund, co-founded by Arian Simone and Ayana Parsons, embodies this spirit as they steer their initiative forward— one focused on redressing the balance and securing economic justice for Black women entrepreneurs.

“But not only did they give the land, they built land grant colleges with government money to teach them how to farm. Not only that, they provided county agents to further their expertise in farming. Not only that, they provided low interest rates in order that they could mechanize their farms. Not only that, today many of these people are receiving millions of dollars in federal subsidies not to farm. “And they are the very people telling the black man that he ought to lift himself by his own bootstraps. And this is what we are faced with. Now this is the reality. Now when we come to Washington, in this campaign, we are coming to get our check.”

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

The impassioned promise of this quote becomes a rallying cry for the twenty-first-century battle against enduring systemic racism and economic inequality. King’s enduring vision for financial equality inspires the Fearless Fund, which seeks to invest in the overlooked and underestimated businesses owned by women of color. The initiative directly responds to the legacy of economic injustice that Dr. King highlighted— a commitment to ensuring that the check of opportunity isn’t marked with insufficient funds for the Black community any longer.

The Fearless Fund is not just a financier but an emblem of hope and resistance against structures cemented by disproportionate economic hardship. Yet, as this modern endeavor unfolds, the Fearless Fund faces backlash. The systemic racism that has meticulously woven itself through the very fabric of American capitalism now challenges the fund’s existence through legal actions and public disputes.

The lawsuit against the Fearless Fund throws into sharp relief these structural barriers. As outlined in a feature by TIME magazine, the American Alliance for Equal Rights contends that the fund’s focus on grants and investments advocating racial preference is unlawful. This challenge stands at the crisp intersection of civil rights and affirmative action—a contentious and complex frontier where competing interpretations of equality and equity clash.

This legal dispute is about much more than one organization. It’s a microcosm of a broader struggle—a pivot point in the ongoing narrative of America’s racial history. It reveals that the battle for civil rights has extended beyond desegregation and voting rights into the domain of economic empowerment and inclusion.

Indeed, while Black women-owned businesses are the fastest-growing segment of the entrepreneur population in the US, they remain grossly underfunded. Recent events, underscored by the social upheaval following George Floyd’s murder, temporarily amplified attention and investment, yet the surge has waned under the weight of legal scrutiny. The Fearless Fund’s mission to level the playing field by specifically supporting businesses by women of color has been questioned, igniting a debate that resonates with historical civil rights confrontations.

The Fearless Fund was launched with a promise to disrupt these systemic inequities, motivated by the stark reality that Black women receive less than 1% of venture capital funding. Through its initiatives, the Fund recognizes that robust support for Black female entrepreneurs is pivotal in addressing wealth inequality. Yet now, ironically, these very efforts to rectify and heal the scars of systemic racism are under attack, flagged as discriminatory under the banner of civil rights.

The ripple effects are not to be underestimated. If the lawsuit succeeds in upending the Fund’s targeted approach to investment in Black women-owned businesses, the consequences could extend beyond just one VC firm. It could signal the shuttering of programs designed to rectify the longstanding neglect of minority communities in the business space, effectively reinstating the economic status quo ante – a landscape skewed against people of color.

This poses an existential question: How can we move toward a society where racial and gender-based disparities are resolved if the remedies put in place to address these disparities are themselves deemed discriminatory? The legal interpretation of equity is being interrogated in courts, but the moral imperative remains clear. Supporting Black entrepreneurs, particularly women, is not just about creating economic opportunity—it is about rectifying a historic power imbalance entrenched by systemic racism.

As the Fearless Fund defends its mission and values, it becomes ever more apparent that the fight for civil rights has morphed into a nuanced battle for economic justice. This fight transcends the courtroom and descends into the very fabric of American life—demanding that we confront the enduring legacy of racial inequality that undermines the economic health and well-being of Black communities.

In this critical hour, we must stand with Fearless Fund and similar initiatives seeking to bridge gaps, overturn disparities, and ensure that the promise of the civil rights movement—the promise of a fair, just, and equitable America—is actualized in every aspect, including economic empowerment. Dr. King understood that civil rights without economic rights are an incomplete mission. The call now is for solidarity in recognizing that the battle for civil rights, historically rooted in legal recognition, today demands tangible economic outcomes to truly transform lives. The march continues, with the Fearless Fund at the forefront, resolute and courageous in its pursuit of a more equitable financial future for all.

Where do you stand?

This piece was written with assistance from ChatGPT