Americans live apart because of deliberate actions by public and private actors. It’s important to us at S&C to make sure our agents understand how we became divided and of the ramifications of living in a segregated society. Here are 3 books every real estate agent needs to read.
Have you ever heard of redlining? HINT: Residential segregation in America didn’t happen by accident.
Here at Sage & Cedar, we are in the constant mode of self-education. And we’re on a mission to share the most eye-opening pieces we’ve been reading lately.
01. Wilmington’s Lie by David Zucchino – The Murderous Coup of 1898 and the Rise of White Supremacy
“In Wilmington’s Lie, Pulitzer Prize-winner David Zucchino uses contemporary newspaper accounts, diaries, letters, and official communications to create a gripping and compelling narrative that weaves together individual stories of hate and fear and brutality. This is a dramatic and definitive account of a remarkable but forgotten chapter of American history.”
Buy the book here
02. Race for Profit by Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor – How Banks and the Real Estate Industry Undermined Black Homeownership
“Race for Profit uncovers how exploitative real estate practices continued well after housing discrimination was banned. The same racist structures and individuals remained intact after redlining’s end, and close relationships between regulators and the industry created incentives to ignore improprieties. Meanwhile, new policies meant to encourage low-income homeownership created new methods to exploit Black homeowners.”
Buy the book here
There’s always more to know, and we can all do better.
03. The Color of Law By Richard Rothstein – A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America
“In this groundbreaking history of the modern American metropolis, Richard Rothstein, a leading authority on housing policy, explodes the myth that America’s cities came to be racially divided through de facto segregation – that is, through individual prejudices, income differences, or the actions of private institutions like banks and real estate agencies. Rather, The Color of Law incontrovertibly makes clear that it was de jure segregation – the laws and policy decisions passed by local, state, and federal governments – that actually promoted the discriminatory patterns that continue to this day.”
Buy the book here
As agents impacting communities, it’s our duty to slow down, course correct, and take action. Remaining steadfast in our commitment to breaking down biases, holding ourselves accountable, and upholding the letter of the law is part of the job we’ve got to remember.
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