As National Black History Month, February is dedicated to learning about and celebrating the invaluable contributions of Black Americans throughout the history of our country, as well as recognizing the barriers they have faced, and continue to face, in their fight for equality and inclusion, including in real estate and housing. This self-education and reflection is vital to working to remove those barriers and to make homeownership, and with that a growth in generational wealth, a true possibility for all who seek it. This work can’t stop, however, after February 28. Here are a number of ways you can learn about and honor Black history, as well as continue to help work toward positive change and equality in our industry and communities, now and every day:
- Read about the history of Black History Month
- Learn about some of the countless accomplishments and contributions of Black Americans
- Check out Black History Month events happening in our area, such as those being offered by UW-Madison and the Madison Public Libraries
- Read The Color of Law: A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America by Richard Rothstein, and watch a short video with this author on the same topic
- Complete the NAR Fairhaven Housing Simulation
- Watch this NAR video, Bias Override: Overcoming Barriers to Fair Housing
- Review the Five-Point Framework for Reducing the Black Homeownership Gap
- Learn about the National Association of Real Estate Brokers (NAREB), the oldest minority professional trade association in the country, that seeks to promote “democracy in housing” and bring together minority real estate professionals to help achieve fair housing for all
- Check out the RASCW Minority Scholarship, which aims to help increase diversity amongst area real estate professionals
