Von Bryant Comments on American Alliance for Equal Rights v. Fearless Fund

Foley & Lardner LLP partner Von Bryant is quoted in the NPR article, “A federal appeals court blocks a grant program for Black female entrepreneurs,” commenting on the legal questions raised over the use of diversity programs in the corporate world in American Alliance for Equal Rights v. Fearless Fund.

“In the context of historically systemic racism, what the Fearless Fund grant is really trying to do is be a beacon for people who have historically and presently had an uphill battle for funding,” Bryant explained. “This program is trying to address that.”

“The plaintiffs in this case are fighting for quote ‘equality,’ but is that equitable?” he asked. Bryant also noted that in addition to funding, the Fearless Fund program provides valuable mentorship and networking opportunities that are disparately unavailable to Black female entrepreneurs.