Black Women In Business

A venture capital grant program for Black women officially ends after court ruling

The Fearless Fund, an Atlanta-based venture capital firm, will shutter its grant program for Black women as part of a settlement, ending a year-long affirmative action battle. Here, co-founders and CEOs of The Fearless Fund Arian Simone (center left) and Ayana Parsons (center right) speak to journalists outside federal court in Miami on Jan. 31.

 ^NPR 

In Jonathan Franklin’s NPR article on the closure of the Fearless Fund’s grant program, found here, the dismantling of a vital initiative for Black women entrepreneurs highlights not only the racial biases in today's economy but also the damaging propaganda used to justify such actions. Conservative activist Edward Blum’s legal argument against the Strivers Grant claims to fight for equality, but in reality, it is part of a broader effort to further marginalize an already vulnerable community.

The Fearless Fund was designed to address the fact that only 2% of venture capital professionals were Black women in 2022. Rather than fighting discrimination, Blum's lawsuit perpetuates it, stripping away opportunities from one of the most underrepresented groups in business. This isn't Blum’s first time advancing an agenda that disproportionately harms marginalized communities. His past efforts to dismantle affirmative action policies in universities—policies designed to help level the playing field for students of color—reflect a pattern of targeting these groups for political gain under the guise of fairness.

Blum’s tactics are not about promoting true equality; they are a deliberate attack on programs designed to create equity in spaces where minorities have been historically excluded. By manipulating the legal system, he undermines the economic and educational opportunities of those who need them most, ensuring the continuation of systemic racism while falsely portraying his efforts as neutral.

And to that, we say, "Fck that."

The propaganda used in these lawsuits not only harms Black business owners by cutting off access to funding but also reinforces harmful stereotypes that falsely frame initiatives for marginalized communities as "unfair advantages." This rhetoric distorts the reality of economic inequality and is a political tool aimed at maintaining the status quo.

It's time to recognize Blum's actions for what they are—a calculated attack on progress. His legal strategies are designed to polarize and block efforts that create real opportunities for Black communities. We say "Fck that" to these manipulations, because they are not about fairness—they're about power. Let’s stand against this harmful agenda and ensure that true equity becomes the standard, not the exception.

Fckthat.

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Fckthat ✌🏾