Acclaimed actor Wendell Pierce is speaking out against housing discrimination after revealing that his application for a New York City apartment was denied, and he says it was because of race.

On Monday, Pierce took to X, formerly known as Twitter. He shared his grievances with the city’s housing system while pointing out that he shouldn’t have gone through something like this in a borough with significant historical ties to African American history.

“Even with my proof of employment, bank statements and real estate holdings, a white apartment owner DENIED my application to rent the apartment…..in Harlem, of all places. Racism and bigots are real. There are those who will do anything to destroy life’s journey for Black folks. When you deny our personal experiences, you are as vile and despicable,” Pierce wrote in the post.

Pierce is an accomplished actor known for his versatile roles and performances in television, film, and Broadway. In his post, the 60-year-old mentioned that he currently appears in two television series, Elsbeth and Raising Kanan, while filming the latest Superman movie. He also stated that he finished the fourth season of Jack Ryan and completed his run in the Broadway show Death of a Salesman last year.

Every housing application requires proof of income, bank statements, and employment for approval. Pierce said he had provided the necessary documents and paperwork to proceed but could not understand why he had been denied the apartment.

Pierce also spoke out about a recent court decision that blocked an Atlanta venture firm from creating grant opportunities for Black women. His own experiences with racism in housing led him to voice his opinions about the ruling that affects Black people and their right to lead a successful life.

“While I appreciate the response to my own personal experience of discrimination in housing, I only mentioned it as an example of the insidious nature of bigotry,” Pierce wrote. “This court decision is profoundly more disturbing and injurious. CALL TO ACTION,” Pierce wrote in a separate post.

The Wall Street Journal reported the ruling in question, stating that conservative groups have long argued against diversity and inclusion programs, with the latest one geared to awarding grants to Black women to further their businesses. The case was decided in the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in a 2-1 ruling, with two sitting judges appointed for former President Donald Trump.

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