The Attack on Affirmative Action: Is this our Selma Opportunity?

For over fifty years, public policy has influenced the behavior of procurement programs in both the public and private sectors. Historically, debates over affirmative action have concentrated on the relative success of minorities in three principal areas: employment, education, and economics. Of the three, minority business economics is perhaps the least studied, despite its importance for minority business progress and the nation’s economic success.

Across the country, we see evidence regarding the systematic attack on programs created to support affirmative action and the inclusion of minorities. From what we witness, it has gone beyond philosophical debates to legal action.

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Harvard are two consequential Supreme Court cases focused on race-conscious admissions and diversity in higher education. In both cases, the petitioner asks the Court to change the law to prohibit the consideration of race in admissions.

It is widely anticipated that the Court will eliminate race as a consideration in college admissions. Given what has historically happened, minority businesses must brace themselves for the anticipated domino effect of such a decision on race-conscious programs nationwide.

We are already witnessing a systematic attack on local minority business public policy. In Texas, HB 5140 is a “prohibition against considering race or ethnicity as a factor in governmental employment or contracting, in other governmental functions, and higher education admissions.” By removing references to race and ethnicity, Texas’ state programs will become female preferential programs.

We see other lawsuits as well. On the federal level, the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) was established in 1972 to help level the playing field for minority businesses. In March, three white business owners filed a lawsuit alleging discrimination because MBDA’s focus is ethnic minority businesses. While this case has little merit in “ordinary times,” it will be used to try to dismantle the little support offered to minority or socially economically disadvantaged individuals (SEDI) businesses.

We’ve seen this all play out before. In 1995 with the Adarand vs. Pena case, a white contractor sued DOT because a contract was awarded to a disadvantaged business with a higher bid. In a 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court found the case in favor of Adarand.

We must refrain from sitting idly by and watching it play out. We must bring awareness to this issue. We must support vanguard organizations such as the Minority Business Enterprise Legal Defense & Education Fund (MBELDEF).

Programs and policies exist to assist those businesses that continue to be underutilized. Increasing contracting opportunities with underserved businesses narrows persistent wealth disparities among groups that have long faced economic barriers. The value proposition of using diverse suppliers has not changed, but it is incumbent upon us to ensure that we continue to provide an environment in which minority businesses can succeed and thrive.   

Sonya has grown Sage Services Group, LLC from a solopreneur to an enterprise with employees across the nation. Sonya is recognized as a business owner with the mind of an engineer and the heart of a teacher. She consistently shares her knowledge and her approach with her clients, partners, employees and peers because she truly believes that sowing wisdom benefits the person receiving as well as the sower.

For over 20 years Sonya has provided leadership on mission critical projects with a diverse range of public and private organizations to improve performance and strengthen organizational effectiveness.

Sonya brings her experience and passion to CRMSDC's MBE Input Committee as the New Chair. We are honored to have her leading the new executive team which includes:

• 1st Vice-Chair, Sanjiv Teelock, Xceede Solutions
• 2nd Vice-Chair, Nasra Abdi, ACI Solutions
• Secretary/Treasurer, Mercedita Roxas-Murray, Montage Marketing Group

Monthly Meeting

Tuesday, May 9, 2023

8:00 am

We would like to welcome our newest Corporate Members to the CRMSDC Family. To learn more about their organization, please access the links below:

MBE Resources in Virginia

Virginia Small Business Development Center (SBDC)

If you are an aspiring entrepreneur or an existing business owner, the VA SBDC offers no-cost individualized advising, from start up to established businesses.

Virginia Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) offers specialized services such as: navigating government databases, providing guidance on socio-economic certifications, answering contract management questions, and marketing to the government. Counseling is free of charge to Virginia based businesses in our service area who meet the qualifications for assistance.

Metropolitan Business League (MBL) promotes economic prosperity through education, advocacy, access to resources, and building relationships for small, women-owned, and minority-owned businesses. Membership will help you establish relationships that can assist with your company’s growth through referrals and networking. We encourage teaming relationships and assist in our members’ efforts to secure procurement awards.

VSU Center for Entrepreneurship provides formal entrepreneurship education, training, and networking opportunities for small businesses, minority entrepreneurs, veterans, aspiring student entrepreneurs, agribusiness, and social entrepreneurs in the Central Eastern Virginia region. They have a specific emphasis on assisting the region's large minority, military and veteran, and student populations with launching and operating successful, socially-responsible ventures that lead to economic growth for the regions we serve.

ODU Women's Business Center "levels the playing field" for women entrepreneurs, who still face unique obstacles in the business world, by providing the tools for women to successfully own, operate and grow their small businesses. They create economic opportunities and job growth in Hampton Roads by investing financially, intellectually and emotionally into women business owners, enabling them to thrive in the local entrepreneurial ecosystem.