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For Ohioans, the month of January is usually the harshest of the winter season.
It is known for its cold, frigid temperatures. And, of course, with the colder temperatures comes the snow and ice. It's a month we all would love to stay indoors.
Rebounding from the holidays and readjusting to a regular work schedule again, we all welcome a day off in January when we celebrate what is known as Martin Luther King Jr. Day, usually the third Monday of the month. However, it's not just a day off work. It's a day to honor one of the most significant figures of the Civil Rights movement and his contributions to the movement. His efforts, along with countless others, helped propel change in our country to provide equal rights to all citizens regardless of race, color, gender, religion or national origin.
So, what does Martin Luther King Jr. Day have to do with real estate? Martin Luther King, Jr's efforts in the civil rights movement and the efforts and sacrifices of many others led to the Fair Housing Act of 1968. The Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination concerning the sale, rental and financing based on race, religion, gender or national origin. The Fair Housing Act of 1968 was meant as a follow-up to the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Civil Rights Voting Act of 1965.
After success in championing African-Americans' civil rights and voting rights, King began the fight for open or fair housing in 1966. However, it took two more years, his assassination, and riots across the country before the Fair Housing Act of 1968 became law. In response to Martin Luther King Jr.'s untimely death, President Lyndon Johnson increased Congress's pressure to pass the Fair Housing legislation. The Fair Housing Act of 1968 was signed into law a week later, honoring King and his legacy.
So who is this man, Martin Luther King Jr.? As a young, educated minister, King moved with his wife to Montgomery, Ala., to assume his role as pastor of a local church in 1954. In 1955, King sat on a local committee from the Birmingham African-American community that looked into cases of discrimination against African-American citizens.
During this time, the southern states were still heavily segregated. Two incidents involving two African-American women refusing to give up their bus seats to white passengers led to the Montgomery Bus Boycott in 1955, which was led by King, with the urging of a fellow committee member.African-American citizens in the city of Montgomery boycotted the city buses by refusing to ride.
Fellow ministers asked King to take a leadership role in the new movement due to his newness in community leadership and speaking out. He was hesitant to take on the role but agreed to if no one else wanted the position. The bus boycott lasted for 385 days, King's home was bombed, and he was jailed during this time. Overnight, the movement garnered national media attention, thrusting him into the spotlight. The bus boycott ended when the United States District Court issued a ruling in Browder v. Gayle, which prohibited racial segregation on all Montgomery public buses. His role in the bus boycott transformed him into a national figure for the civil rights movement.
Using his status as a platform for civil rights reform, King worked with black churches and other activists to organize peaceful, non-violent protests. He organized and led marches for African-American rights to vote, desegregation, labor rights and other civil rights. He believed that organized, non-violent protests against southern segregation would lead to media coverage of the struggle for black equality and voting rights.
Many African-American groups were inspired to contribute to the movement of desegregation and civil rights through their collective peaceful efforts. Their efforts helped desegregate businesses, public places, and schools in the south. They participated in marches, sit-ins, began occupying public spaces that by law were for whites only, peacefully protesting segregation laws they that were unjust.
In March 1964, King in St. Augustine, Florida, working with the (SCLC) or Students Non-violent Coordination Committee, joined forces with Robert Haylings' civil rights movement. The collective movement marched nightly through the city. There were counter-demonstrations from opposing groups that provoked violence against those who marched. Many of those who marched were arrested, jailed, and faced violence that drew national media attention. During this demonstration, Congress and President Lyndon Johnson signed into law the Civil Rights Act of 1964. This act ended segregation in public places and banned employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. This move was followed up by the Voting Rights Act of 1965. This act removed barriers for black citizens in the south to be able to vote. They no longer were subject to poll taxes, literacy tests, or other moves that prevented them from voting.
The movement continued, gaining support across the country. In 1966, King began working for open and fair housing for the African-American people. It took two years for Congress to pass the Fair Housing Act of 1968, at the urging of President Lyndon Johnson. The approved legislation came after King's death, riots, and looting that had broken out in over 100 cities across the U.S. The landmark bill solidified the civil rights cause.
Sadly, even with legislation prohibiting housing discrimination, it still existed for many years following. Though the more prominent discriminatory acts were dealt with, the smaller, more covert practices were unnoticed. Communities remained segregated for years to come. Better employment opportunities were not readily available to those of color, which was needed to obtain better housing.
But over the years, many have brought housing discrimination cases to court and won, setting a precedent that discrimination will not be tolerated and will be punished as per the law. Through awareness, we as a society have made some progress, but there is still much more to be done. In 2017, it was reported that there were 28,000 complaints of housing discrimination across the country. These cases became lawsuits against cities, banks, and landlords for discrimination with regard to housing and lending. More awareness and education are needed in the real estate sector to help prevent these unfair practices.
Martin Luther King Jr. and many others who joined him started a crucial and necessary movement many years ago. His goal was to see all people live in harmony with the same rights and freedoms as their fellow man. With this comes the right to available and affordable housing in a community of one's choice. We must all work together to make this dream, the dream of homeownership, attainable to all those who want it.
Marlin Palich is the 2022 president of Stark Trumbull Area Realtors, which serves Stark, Carroll and Trumbull counties.