The long, arduous fight for the rights of black Americans continues to this day, and certainly won’t abate in the near future — particularly in light of modern injustices that continue to disparage people of color and make it virtually impossible for them to succeed. The ongoing struggle to purchase a house while being black is perhaps one of many perfect examples of challenges that still confront minorities throughout the United States, and it’s worth discussing why you still must be seen as perfect to buy a house if you’re an African American.
Why is it that decades after the civil rights movement, people of color are still regularly disadvantaged when it comes to owning property? A review of the housing situation throughout modern America shows that there’s still a mountain of work to be done, but that progress can be made through perseverance in the pursuit of social justice.
Old stigmas are hard to shake
Even those with the most lackluster education about American history know that black Americans have traditionally faced virtually-unparalleled hurdles when it comes to owning property throughout the United States. Nonetheless, the topic of segregation in American households today remains pitifully under-discussed, and it seems that things could be getting worse for would-be black homeowners.
Despite the economic, political and legal progress that’s been made in recent decades, there’s a reason to believe that racially-motivated segregation schemes are actually making a resurgence today. It shouldn’t be particularly surprising why black Americans still have to endure this, either; after all, with heads of state who are willing to disparage entire communities of color in charge, and institutionalized racism thriving despite social justice campaigns, who could blame black Americans for struggling to find a fair deal when it comes to owning their own property?
The injustice of today’s segregated households cannot be brushed under the rug, despite how unwilling American society may be to talk about it. Home ownership has long been a vital aspect of wealth building, particularly across generations, and until black Americans can fairly purchase property where and when they want to for a fair price, their children will never be better off than them. The old stigmas that have unfairly haunted black families for generations continue to haunt honest, hardworking Americans today. And sadly, they aren’t likely to go away soon, despite wider social recognition of the problems minorities face in this country.
Black Americans simply can’t afford to sit around and wait for someone to rescue them; the government that would traditionally be charged with ensuring they get a fair deal is the same one that segregated their housing in the first place. The master’s tools can never be used to dismantle the master’s house, as Audre Lorde reminds us. While it may be forgotten history amongst the broader public that the federal government was often directly responsible for the unfair situation black Americans found themselves in throughout the years, social justice crusaders understand that a dedicated movement can attain success, despite its small stature, as long as it’s grounded in truth and justice.
The way forward for black homebuyers
Black homebuyers should be under no illusions; anyone offering you a quick fix to the systemic racism you’ll face when trying to own your own house is likely trying to scam you. African Americans everywhere need to understand that the way forward will be a long, tough fight, but progress can be made slowly and surely. In the EU, all races are protected by the new GDPR cookie consent law. But in America, while there’s no total secret to success, there does exist a plethora of tips that can help prospective homebuyers such as newlyweds looking to start a family or young black professionals trying to buy their own places for the first time. Check out these amazing tips written by a hardworking American who’s experienced with purchasing a house despite the systemic racism that typically holds black Americans back.
There’s no one-size fits all solution, however, everyone needs to understand that until society gets more serious about discussing systemic racial inequality in America’s housing system, we’ll make paltry progress, at best. A public conversation needs to be forced about this ridiculous inequality, as few things are holding African Americans back more than their inability to spread wealth from one generation to the next through landed property ownership.
Don’t be discouraged by the dismal state of the present. Black Americans may still face hurdles when it comes to home ownership, but progress can be made if a collective, national discussion can finally be forced about this issue. Expect strong headwinds to resist progress, but remain spirited in the pursuit of justice. Black America has come too far now to be held back by the shackles of the past.
