By Dave Dahl

SPRINGFIELD – Illinois’ Black business leaders say while they have made progress … they still need some protection.

Illinois State Black Chamber of Commerce president Larry Ivory chairs the Illinois Black Business Political Action Fund and says Blacks are a force.

“African-Americans helped build this country,” Ivory told a statehouse news conference. “Without four million Black slaves working for free, we doubt that America would become the economic giant that it is, the greatest economy in the world,” adding that the tax collector is color-blind, and the rest of the economy should be as well

Ivory opposes any phase-out of guidelines for DEI – Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, and state Black chamber chairman Will Kyles, the deputy mayor of Champaign, agrees.

“We’re not going to say that DEI solves all of our problems,” said Kyles. “But you know what it does do? It allows for implementation. It allows ideas to form.”

Dave Dahl can be reached at [email protected]