😈 JAMES c. bARKSDALE  (​10/1/1931 — 8/19/2001)

by Charlotte A. Clark-Frieson (aka) Wilkie Clark's Daughter
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If ever there was any one man, who could undeniably be considered an antagonist in the Wilkie Clark saga, it would be Mr. James C. Barksdale.  When I was in my early teens, James C. Barksdale's name rang all through my parents' home almost 24/7.   It's a name I would never — ever forget — even after 57+ long years.  Who was he?  Why was he such an important part of my father's story?

James C. Barksdale was (as I called him, before actually researching his true title) the SBA Loan Officer, at the SBA Office in Birmingham, Alabama who repeatedly turned my father down, for an SBA Business Loan in the period leading up to July, 1969, when he was finally approved for a Small Business Loan.  

At this particular time, it was my understanding [as a mere youngster observing my father's struggles], that the U.S. Small Business Administration could help black citizens desiring to start businesses with basically two (2) types of funding. 

(1) An "SBA Backed Loan" — money borrowed from a local banking institution, but repayment guaranteed by the U.S. Small Business Administration.

(2) An "SBA Direct Loan" — money provided directly from the SBA for the start-up of a business.   (If my memory serves me correctly the only way you could qualify for an SBA Direct Loan was to be denied by at least three (3) banking institutions.  

During my early teenage years, I watched my father meticulously travel back and forth to and from various cities  in Alabama:  (i.e. Tuskegee, Opelika, Birmingham, Anniston) to attend SBA Business Development Workshops) learning how to navigate this impossibly convoluted process.   As his daughter, and being so madly in love with him, whatever I sensed he wanted, I wanted that desperately for him.    I was his biggest and best advocate.  Beyond that, and just learning vicariously what hoops he had to jump through, there was not very much I could do to help him — other than embrace his dream, and be his biggest fan.

Over the years, I have looked back retrospectively over the many obstacles my father faced as a black man trying to navigate 20th century Alabama​, and I have internally relived every moment, every disappointment, every heartache.   

However, only recently have I considered Barksdale and the role he played in my father's odyssey.    Only recently did I feel compelled to care enough to even take a historical look back and dig into this man.  Who was he?  What was his mission? Why he make the decisions he made?  

God rest his soul, James Barksdale passed away at the age of 69 (ironically the same age my father was when he died in 1989), in Birmingham, having served as the Deputy Director of the U.S. Small Business Administration for 40 years. 

And even as he now lies dead and in his grave, at Southern Heritage Cemetery, Pelham, Shelby County, Alabama, I still question his integrity.  Was he really acting true to his calling?  His responsibility?  Or was there a hint of racism in his actions?  Even as I tearfully recall my father's many automobile trips to Birmingham, Alabama, riding down that long, lonesome I-20 still heavily under construction, sometimes rough, wearing out tires, burning gasoline, and coming home disappointed.

After some digging, I was finally able to unearth a couple of obituary listings from different publications.
After 40 years serving in one capacity or another of the Alabama Small Business Administration, I have repeatedly pondered, how many black folks got "dissed" by this man?  How many other Wilkie Clarks encountered James C. Barksdale only to receive the same identical treatment, and still be "dissed"?

DISCUSSION:
With all of the above considered, the question now begs to be answered:  
Did Blacks desiring to go into business really benefit from the formation of the Small Business Administration?

EMPHATICALLY NOT:
No, Black people desiring to go into business did not significantly benefit from the Small Business Administration (SBA) at its formation and for many years afterward. Although the SBA was created in 1953, its programs were not designed to address systemic inequities in access to capital, and Black entrepreneurs faced persistent discrimination that limited their ability to gain funding through the agency.   Later Federal mandates specifically targeting minority businesses offered more aid, but stark disparities in outcomes remain. 

Initial limitations and systemic barriers
In its early decades, the SBA's design and operational culture did not counter existing discriminatory practices, leaving Black entrepreneurs at a disadvantage. 

Neutrality did not equal equity:
The 1953 Small Business Act, which established the SBA, required the agency to ensure that small businesses received a "fair portion" of government contracts. However, this mandate did not initially specify assistance for minority-owned businesses. As a result, Black business owners continued to face the same racist credit and lending system that existed before the SBA's formation.

Existing racial discrimination: In the 1950s and 60s, a legacy of racial discrimination meant that Black individuals had far less access to wealth, collateral, and business experience than their white counterparts. Without the necessary assets and capital, Black entrepreneurs were often unable to meet the stringent requirements for traditional SBA-backed loans.

Racial bias from lenders:
The SBA does not directly lend money, but rather guarantees loans made by commercial banks. These banks often denied loans to Black applicants, even when they were financially comparable to white applicants. A fear of rejection, based on decades of experience with discriminatory lending, led many Black entrepreneurs to not even apply. 

Shift toward specific minority business initiatives
Following the Civil Rights Movement, the federal government began to create programs with minority business enterprises (MBE) as an explicit focus. 

Civil Rights Act of 1964:
This legislation provided the legal basis to address and challenge discrimination, giving momentum to initiatives that would specifically target minority-owned businesses.

Office of Minority Business Enterprise (1969):
The Nixon administration established this office to help cultivate minority entrepreneurship. While it existed separately from the SBA, it signaled a new era of federal focus on MBEs.

8(a) Business Development Program: 
By the late 1960s, the SBA began creating programs specifically to assist "socially and economically disadvantaged" small businesses, including the 8(a) program, which helped minority-owned firms obtain government contracts. 

Continuing disparities and modern critiques
Despite more targeted initiatives, significant disparities and challenges remain for Black entrepreneurs using SBA and other lending programs. 

Lower approval rates and smaller loans:
Studies show that Black entrepreneurs are more likely to receive SBA loans than white entrepreneurs, but on average, they receive smaller loan amounts. They also have lower overall loan approval rates compared to white, Asian, and Hispanic business owners.

Discouragement and mistrust:
​Due to past and present experiences with discrimination, many Black business owners remain hesitant to apply for traditional bank financing, including SBA-backed loans.

Uneven progress:
While the Biden administration has touted increases in SBA loans to Black-owned businesses, significant gaps in federal contract awards and other areas of economic equality persist. The Brookings Institute noted in 2025 that Black business owners were approved for only 6.5% of SBA loans by number, far below their percentage of the population.