Today, Flock's profits come from managing homes. But we cannot ignore the past. The real estate industry and its generation to generation wealth creation has been out of reach for many Black and Brown individuals. Redlining alone tells the story we have to study as a very real social, political and economic conspiracy to prevent (predominately) Black homeownership. “Conspiracy,” however, implies that there was something to hide. In actuality, redlining and steering was very public. The overtly racist practices and policies that prevented the accumulation of wealth through home/property ownership disrupted any hope for parity or equality in real estate and home buying. And, by design, the acquisition of wealth generating assets like real property and the ability to pass them onto future generations was deliberately kept out of reach for those who didn’t look like me. Together, with the Greater Washington Community Foundation we're planting seeds for the equitable future we want to be part of. That isn’t a story I want to be part of. So let’s start another narrative. Let’s repair the damages of the past. And let’s call it what it is: long overdue reparative justice. In late fall of 2020, Flock’s birdSEED evolved into a foundation designed to offer home buying assistance to Black and Brown residents of the District of Columbia. Is this a financial windfall for many who have long sought home ownership? Not quite yet. Does it shift the conversation and invite those who have squarely benefited from an industry that excluded others to consider their responsibility? It should. My peers might say: “but I didn’t cause the problem!” To which I say: “Maybe not, but it’s your responsibility - it’s OUR responsibility to UNDO it.” Lisa Wise - Lisa Wise, Founder and Chief Flockster, Flock DC
