What is the effect of Gov. Terry McAuliffe’s executive order calling for 42 percent of spending in various state executive branch contracts be conducted with small businesses with minority or female ownership?

The reality is that the bar for small, women- and minority-owned businesses has been increased by only 2 percent.

The real problem is the minority business portion of SWaM, which has continued to skimp along with less than 1 percent of the procurement and contracting dollars from the state.

Traditionally, less than 1 percent of the tax dollars spent by Virginians and African-Americans returns to the African-American community through state spending because the dollars are not directed to MBE businesses. The Supreme Court stated that if a disparity could be proven, then remedial measures should be put in place to correct the discrepancy in spending.

The state has done two disparity studies, both showing that African-Americans, who represent 20 percent or more of the population, receive only a 1 percent or less return on the economic dollars spent in Virginia. Yet the General Assembly year after year strikes down every bill seeking to correct the matter because of unfairness in their hearts and lobbyists who support that same mindset. No one seems to want to step up and do the right thing so that all Virginians can participate fairly in this economic procurement process.

The right thing is to include a set-aside for businesses systematically left out of the process. Step up and demand that Gov. McAuliffe institute a 10 percent, 15 percent or even a 20 percent set-aside in all areas of procurement and contracting for African-Americans who have a rich history, but also a history of being treated unfairly. Now is the time to correct some of this unfairness by writing an executive order for African-American businesses that will correct some of the wrong inflicted upon our people. We want fair economic justice, along with equitable fair procurement procedures. We deserve it, instead of continually being put on hold by administration after administration with a promise.

HAROLD PARKER JR.

Richmond

The writer is board chair of the Central Virginia Business and Construction Association.