Amazon Wins Legal Battle Against White Entrepreneurs Challenging Diversity Grant Program

The US District Court for the Southern District of California recently ruled in favor of Amazon.com Inc. in a challenge brought by a group of White entrepreneurs to its Diversity Grant program, specifically designed for minority delivery business owners. The court found that the entrepreneurs did not have standing to bring the case and failed to adequately show that they were discriminated against because they did not apply to the program.

The Amazon Diversity Grant program was launched in 2020 as part of the company’s efforts to support underrepresented communities in the delivery business. The program provides $10,000 in start-up costs to help qualified Black, Latino, and Native American business owners become delivery service partners. However, three White plaintiffs, including Luciano Alexandre, argued that the program discriminates against White business owners and filed a lawsuit challenging its legality.

Despite this setback for the White entrepreneurs, their legal challenge highlights ongoing debates around diversity and inclusion initiatives in corporate America. While diversity programs are designed to address historical inequalities and promote economic empowerment for marginalized groups, they can also spark legal challenges from individuals who feel excluded or unfairly treated by these programs. In this case, the court found that the White entrepreneurs did not have legal standing to challenge the program because they did not apply for it themselves.