Small Business Majority Urges National Leaders to Stand Up Against Bigotry and Inequality for the Good of Small Business

As advocates for the small business community that are focused on building an inclusive and diverse economy, we condemn the racism in our country that continues to spawn shocking institutional violence against African-Americans and other people of color. Our mission is to support diverse entrepreneurs and those in underserved communities, as we see on a daily basis the disadvantages faced by hard-working business owners and their employees in those communities—including lack of access to capital, quality healthcare, other benefits and equal economic opportunities. Sadly, this inequality goes hand-in-glove with the recent brutality against people of color we have all witnessed in Minneapolis and around the country.

Over the past three months, hundreds of thousands of small businesses have been destroyed as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, along with the livelihoods of business owners, their employees and their families. This devastation has hit minority-owned businesses particularly hard: A recent survey found that black and Latino-owned businesses have been largely left behind by government loan relief programs, and half anticipate being forced to close permanently in the next six months. This inequality must change now. 

Small Business Majority stands in solidarity with those around the country who are calling for change and with small businesses in communities that are being impacted. We demand that our national leaders, especially the president, stop sowing division, speak forcefully against the type of hatred and bigotry that has led us to where we are today and focus on policies that will alleviate our nation’s economic, social and political discrimination. It is high time that we collectively acknowledge and address our nation’s inequalities head on and work together to build a truly inclusive, democratic economy and society.