GuestColumn
Why I’m Disappointed but not Surprised by the Supreme Court Decision to End Affirmative Action
By Christine Edwards Founder and Principal Consultant, Civility Localized
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s a Black woman business owner in the government contracting space, I’m keenly aware of the importance of affirmative action policies. In 2020, I joined thousands of workers who quit their full-time jobs to pursue their passions through entrepreneurship — a pathway that, for me, relied heavily on public sector supplier diversity initiatives. That’s why I’m deeply concerned about the impact of the 2023 Supreme Court decision to end affirmative action. I knew the resulting decision from Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard would cause immediate harm in higher education, and I feared it would have dire consequences in the business world as well. Since then, those fears continue to materialize. I also teach a government contracts course at Central Piedmont Community College, so I’ve been closely monitoring the impact of the recent decision on the small businesses I mentor. One of the most immediate and disheartening developments was the suspension of all new SBA 8(a) program applications. This program provides socially disadvantaged businesses with access to federal contracting opportunities, mentoring and technical assistance. It has been a lifeline for many minorityowned businesses. To comply with the law of the land, the SBA 8(a) program now requires new applicants to write a social disadvantage narrative essay; playing into years of discriminatory practices by insisting that Black and Brown folks retell exactly how our nation’s legacy of racial discrimination directly impacts them. This backlash is a very tangible example of Toni Morrison’s commentary on racial discrimination: “The very serious function of racism is a distraction. It keeps you from doing your work. It keeps you explaining over and over again, your reason for being.” Statistics consistently show the disadvantages minority-owned businesses face when securing capital.
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For instance, according to findings from the Commerce Department’s Minority Business Development Agency, minorityowned firms are much less likely to be approved for small business loans than white-owned firms. Yet programs designed to right these wrongs are currently subject to lawsuits and being shut down with dubious arguments of reverse racial discrimination. This is not just a setback for businesses. The fallout from the Supreme Court’s Affirmative Action decision in real time has impacted everything from government contracting to venture capital, to supplier diversity and workplace diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs across the country. It has even sparked claims that non-minority workers are being deprioritized in efforts to increase diversity, ultimately discriminating against white employees. One such example is Gannett, a prominent newspaper company, whose white employees have launched a class action lawsuit against the company claiming reverse discrimination in response to recent layoffs. Cases such as these will continue to happen as advocates try to intentionally make pathways for the less advantaged. In the wake of these shifting dynamics, cities like Charlotte, recognized for its thriving small business ecosystem and welcoming workplaces, face a crucial challenge: protecting and building environments that remain conducive to success in the long run. This is not the first time adversity has challenged entrepreneurs like me. We have to stay equipped with the tools we’ve had in our toolbox all along. Sometimes that includes being the “first” or “only” in the rooms we enter. The question really is how will the cities we live and work in support us in the absence of DEI initiatives? Future entrepreneurs and professionals should no longer have to be the “first” or “only” minorities; filling rooms with qualified people who represent the wonderful diversity of the communities they serve. P