Photos: YouTube Screenshots
Atlanta, GA (July 2, 2024) – Arian Simone, CEO of the Fearless Fund and Founder of the Fearless Foundation, issued the following statement on the 60th anniversary of the signing of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
“It’s with a deep sense of commitment to completing the unfinished business of the trailblazers who came before me that I lead the Fearless Fund and Fearless Foundation. Today, sixty years since the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was signed, and 158 years after the enactment of the Civil Rights Act of 1866, protections designed for us are being weaponized against women of color entrepreneurs. Women of color are the fastest growing demographic of entrepreneurs, but receive only a fraction of a percent of all venture capital funding that is allocated in our country each year.
Despite the persistence of this outrageous disparity, there is a snowballing campaign to reverse more than 150 years of statutory and constitutional protections for historically marginalized people, including eliminating the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and other Civil Rights Acts dating back to reconstruction. Last month, the U.S. 11th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that our Fearless Strivers grant program for Black women violates a civil rights law that was explicitly intended to protect the rights of Black people in entering contracts.
Like Edward Blum, the mastermind behind the lawsuit against my organizations, I too believe in an America where race doesn’t matter. That is why I do this work to prove to the establishment that women of color make sound and smart investments. Our results speak for themselves. Unlike Blum, I have a plan to fix this disparity while he simply wants to pull the rug from right out under us. On this anniversary of the signing of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, I call on the Biden Administration and our elected leaders in Congress to double down on the protection of our economic freedoms and demonstrate a tangible commitment to giving women of color and all Americans an equal footing in our economy.
We need an immediate executive order by the President of the United States to protect DEl and the right to fund specific marginalized groups where clear racial disparities exist.”
About Fearless Fund:
The Fearless Fund is committed to fostering fairness and inclusivity by guaranteeing equal opportunities for every individual. Their vision is to establish a global society where marginalized communities, specifically women of color, are empowered with unbiased access to the necessary resources and assistance to unlock success in the business realm. Through these efforts, the Fearless Fund contributes to the advancement of an entire global community.
About Fearless Foundation:
The Fearless Foundation is a 501c-3 non-profit organization that provides capital, community, mentorship, and education to women of color entrepreneurs. They believe that women of color are the unrecognized economic powerhouses of our world, and are committed to helping them build successful businesses that create jobs, generate revenue, and strengthen our communities.
