When seeking "tangibles"—defined as direct economic benefits, land, or dedicated funding—the pushback often stems from the fact that general civil rights laws focus on protections (what people can't do to you) rather than provisions (what the government must give you).
I'm using any and all links to see how we can use this to our benefit, take the meat and spitout the bones.. More
To move from "benign neglect" to actual leverage, you can point your representatives toward existing legal mechanisms that other groups have successfully used to secure resources.
1. Special Purpose Credit Programs (SPCPs)
Under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act of 1974, banks and government agencies are legally allowed to create lending programs specifically for "economically and socially disadvantaged groups".
- The Tactic: Ask your representative why they haven't pressured local banks or federal agencies to establish an SPCP specifically for the FBA community to close the racial wealth gap in your district. More
- The Tactic: These are "carve-outs." Your representative can influence how these contracts are awarded locally. If the FBA community isn't seeing that 10%, ask for an audit of who is actually getting those "disadvantaged" contracts. More
- The Tactic: A representative can sponsor or support a CDC's application for these funds. These grants are for "tangibles"—building businesses and physical infrastructure—rather than just "awareness" programs. More
- The Tactic: These programs compensate local governments because certain lands are tax-exempt or have extracted resources. You can argue for similar "Community Impact" payments for neighborhoods that have been historically devalued or "redlined," creating a permanent revenue stream for the community rather than a one-time grant. More
- The Tactic: If there is a new development in your area using federal money, the representative has the oversight power to ensure FBA workers and businesses are the ones being hired, as mandated by this law.
