UNITY STATEMENT
Updated May 25, 2021 -
CBAC continues to stand together with the Black community and supports the ongoing peaceful protests and rallies of so many crying out for the end of racial injustice and inequities. We also stand together with the Asian & Pacific Islander communities and other members of the BIPOC (Black Indigenous Persons of Color) communities, who continue to experience inequitable treatment due to systemic racism, and conscious and unconscious bias.
On the anniversary of his death, we continue to be heartbroken by the horrible, unjustifiable death of George Floyd, the loss of Breonna Taylor and countless others, and the devastation faced by their families, communities, and our nation. We do not want their deaths to be in vain. Additionally, we denounce the increasing incidences of anti-Asian violence in the past year and reaffirm our commitment, in words and deeds, to be allies to members of all non-dominant communities seeking to exist, survive, thrive, and succeed in accordance with our mission.
As Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. said, "There comes a time when silence is betrayal," and, "Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter." As individuals and as an organization, we continue to have difficult conversations about systemic racism and anti-racist vs. non-racist beliefs and actions, internally and externally. While we have always had these conversations on some levels, the events of 2020 and 2021 continue to encourage if not mandate the need for even more thoughtful conversations for a better understanding to end systemic racism and unconscious bias in our country and the actions necessary to contribute to that end.
These difficult conversations must continue in a way that leads to action in the form of authentic, systemic change that unites us all. We must all strive to become anti-racist, defined as speaking up and acting against racist comments and behaviors whenever they occur. We must also actively work to ensure our practices match our words. As Dr. King further said, "In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends." As Dr. King further noted, "Only when it's dark enough, can you see the stars."
CBAC believes we are at the point of significant change, which will benefit all of us as human beings. We proudly remain dedicated to our mission to serve small businesses, especially those owned by women, minorities, veterans, LGBTQ+, and disabled/differently-abled people and the communities they enrich with their entrepreneurial spirit and the services they provide to all of us. We also continue to join with other CDFIs, industry partners, and all organizations and individuals who believe in and support equitable opportunities for all people in affirming our commitment to social justice.