Why we support Black History and Black Futures Month every day
A Reflection by Vanessa Allmon, Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Dear Beacon Supporters,
In my role as Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, I am proud of the work our collaborative does each day to see that all people have a home. We know that our work is rooted in racial justice and aims to uplift Black and other communities of color in Minnesota through housing justice.
During Black History and Black Futures Month, we stand in full solidarity with Black Americans to proudly celebrate the significant contributions and accomplishments that Black individuals have made to society, and to the world, while also looking forward to new trails that are being blazed for their continued progress and success.
Historically, Black Americans have been at the forefront of leading significant racial justice and civil rights movements throughout U.S. history. For example, the fight to gain increased access to better schools and education resources, creating improved living standards and access to better quality housing, and so much more.
The year-round work that housing organizations like Beacon Interfaith Housing Collaborative do in the present-day, along with our committed allies, is critical as we address the systemic roadblocks that lead to the housing disparities that persist for Black and other communities of color.
As it is now, Minnesota has the fourth-largest homeownership-rate disparity between white/non-Latinx households and Black, Indigenous and households of color. Since the pandemic, our housing crisis has amplified with 70,000 homeowner and 60,000 renter households being behind on their payments. Black households have been about three times more likely to be behind than white households. (According to the MN Housing website, Affordable Housing Plan 2022-2023. https://www.mnhousing.gov/sites/np/plans).
We know that historically housing justice and racial justice are intertwined, with a history of racist housing practices that served to enforce housing segregation and inequities through red lining and restrictive covenants. As we work to fully dismantle these old systems and their legacies, it is important to recognize that we are honoring Black history and advancing Black futures every day in our work.
Our work is the extension of the 20th century racial justice movements that have enabled Black Americans, and other historically marginalized people, access to resources that have put them on a path toward greater socioeconomic freedoms and success now and in the future.
We hope you will join us in acknowledging the big shoulders that we stand on in the interest of full racial justice. You will find some great resources for further learning below.
In Solidarity,
Vanessa Allmon
Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Resources:
