This week, I, along with other members of OWN IT, met with Wisconsin State Representative Melissa Ratcliffe to talk about Discriminatory practices that are still happening in housing (zoning, appraisals, and buying/selling) that target black and brown people trying to buy homes and build generational wealth through owning a home. Our goal was to discuss ways to raise awareness on this issue and implement programs that can work to support initiatives that address these issues.
With the rise of the civil rights movement, there were efforts to eliminate redlining and related practices. Legalized discrimination was prohibited in the 1960s, yet segregation persists in many places, a product of decades of state-supported prejudice. Continued residential segregation by race serves to foster intense physical, social, and financial inequalities. This week was a great first step to even the playing field and keep the conversation open on these practices that still affect Wisconsinites and so many others throughout the country.
