Home City Supports Those Protesting the Murder of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and so many other Black Americans
This violence would not be possible without the deeply ingrained racism that was born with this nation 400 years ago. Despite the noble aspirations of those who strove to create a nation of equal justice under the law, the very unequal justice afforded to Black Americans mocks that aspiration with grim terror.
The undying persistence of this injustice is reflected in the words of the abolitionist, Frederick Douglass, writing almost two centuries ago…and still relevant today.
“For it is not light that is needed, but fire; it is not the gentle shower, but thunder. We need the storm, the whirlwind, and the earthquake. The feeling of the nation must be quickened; the conscience of the nation must be roused; the propriety of the nation must be startled; the hypocrisy of the nation must be exposed; and its crimes against God and man must be proclaimed and denounced.”
As developers of housing affordable for all, we recognize that this racism affects our staff and our residents in many ways. Most recently, we have seen the suffering caused by COVID-19 become most severe in communities of color—not only in health effects, but also in economic costs. From disparities in criminal charges to incarceration rates to discrimination in housing and employment, redlining and the systemic effects are felt everywhere.
We will not pretend to know the path forward. We do know that it will not be easy, that it will require a great deal from us, both personally and organizationally, and that we are committed to the work. In recent years, we have strengthened our ties to people of color by recruiting more ethnically diverse staff and board members. We require all staff to attend anti-racism training. We require minority hiring in our construction contracts, recently incorporating the City of Springfield’s hiring guidelines. We are working with a group of African-American professionals and others to create a recruitment program to maximize participation by minority construction workers and minority-owned construction businesses in the Springfield area. In addition to investing over $40 million dollars to improve housing in predominantly black neighborhoods, we have provided funding to over a dozen service organizations serving people of color living in Springfield. We are working with African-American and Latinx youth leaders to better understand food justice, while bridging the “digital divide” with computer skills and equipment; promoting academic achievement among marginalized students and promoting homeownership and financial self-sufficiency.
Yet we are very much aware that this is not enough. We will continue to support the struggle of those who are seeking change. We will challenge ourselves to look for opportunities to support racial justice and challenge those who would ignore or oppose it.
We believe in the equal justice promised by our country’s founders and fervently hope, someday, that we can, together, deliver that promise.
–The Staff and Board of Directors of Home City Development, Inc.