Reversity’s New Frontier: Conservative Activist Edward Blum Takes Aim at Black Women Trying to close the Economic Inequality Gap
“The war against affirmative action has reached new lows thanks to Edward Blum. The conservative activist that played a key role in the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to reject affirmative action within college admissions has sued the Black-women-owned venture capital firm, Fearless Fund, Reuters reports. Blum, the founder of the nonprofit American Alliance for Equal Rights, filed the lawsuit on Aug. 3, accusing the Atlanta-based firm of practicing unlawful racial discrimination by making only Black women eligible for a grant competition.”
In a bold move that has sparked controversy and debate, conservative activist Edward Blum has set his sights on organizations aiming to reduce income inequality and historical racial discrimination. Blum, known for his opposition to affirmative action, has recently filed a lawsuit against Fearless Fund, a Black venture capital firm, through his nonprofit organization, the American Alliance for Equal Rights. Blum alleges that Fearless Fund is engaging in unlawful racial discrimination by limiting eligibility for their grant competition to Black women only, violating Section 1981 of the Civil Rights Act of 1866.
The Fearless Fund, founded in 2019 by Arian Simone, Ayana Parsons, and Keshia Knight Pulliam, is on a mission to bridge the gap in venture capital funding for women of color founders and provide support to scalable, growth-aggressive companies in industries where Black-owned businesses often face resource disparities compared to their white counterparts. One of the primary programs of Fearless Fund under scrutiny is the Fearless Strivers Grant Contest, which awards Black women small business owners with $20,000 in grants and digital tools to help scale their businesses. The program also offers mentorship opportunities in partnership with Mastercard to the winning participants.
Blum’s opposition to affirmative action is not new; he gained national attention in the early 2000s when he founded the Project on Fair Representation. This legal defense fund has been involved in multiple cases seeking to overturn affirmative action in college admissions and other contexts. Notably, Blum represented Abigail Fisher in the landmark Fisher v. University of Texas at Austin case, which reached the U.S. Supreme Court in 2013 and again in 2016. Although Fisher’s case did not lead to a complete overturning of affirmative action, it sparked significant public debate on the issue.
Beyond his efforts against affirmative action, Blum has been involved in cases challenging the drawing of congressional district lines based on race, arguing that such practices are unconstitutional. He has been a vocal supporter of redistricting efforts aimed at maximizing the influence of conservative voters while reducing the impact of minority voters.
In 1998, Blum founded the nonprofit organization American Constitutional Rights Union (ACRU), which advocates for conservative causes and promotes constitutional principles. His legal strategies have drawn both praise and criticism. Supporters view him as a champion of equal treatment under the law, seeking to end what they see as reverse discrimination. On the other hand, critics argue that his efforts threaten to roll back gains made in civil rights and that affirmative action remains necessary to address historical and ongoing racial disparities.
Blum’s current attack on Fearless Fund and its Fearless Strivers Grant Contest signals his intent to extend his reach into private industry and programs dedicated to reducing income inequality and addressing historical racial discrimination. By targeting a group of Black women entrepreneurs who are helping other Black women build their economic development outcomes, Blum’s actions have ignited debates on the impact of his legal pursuits on diversity and inclusion initiatives.
As of August 3, 2023, the lawsuit against Fearless Fund marks Blum’s first legal action following the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to reject affirmative action in college admissions. It remains to be seen how this lawsuit will unfold and what implications it may have for other programs focused on supporting marginalized communities.
Blum’s unyielding attacks underscore the critical need to redouble our efforts in advancing equal opportunity for Black people, especially Black women. It is essential to recognize that supporting and uplifting Black women entrepreneurs is not merely a well-intentioned gesture but an urgent action to address centuries of bias and discrimination that have disproportionately affected this marginalized community.
Effenus Henderson
