If we are serious about making America great… not just in slogans, but in substance, then we must understand that greatness requires shared prosperity. And that prosperity must be built with and within our own communities. Economic power must be distributed equitably, and to achieve that, Black Americans must become intentional about where and how we spend, invest, and own.
We must turn our attention to a critical pillar of wealth: homeownership. Because when we talk about power real power and equity, we’re talking about owning land, securing equity, and having financial leverage that passes from one generation to the next. That’s how communities grow strong. That’s how respect is earned. And that’s how we rise.
Why We Must Do Business With Each Other
Other communities already understand this fundamental truth: money that stays close, builds close. Their dollars circulate 5, 10, sometimes 15 times before they leave their communities. That intentionality fuels a cycle of growth funding schools, launching businesses, and preserving cultural identity.
In our community, a dollar often leaves in less than six hours. That is not sustainable. That is not how we close wealth gaps or fund our future. It’s time to flip that script. And it starts by doing business with those who know your walk and speak your language literally and culturally.
When you work with a Black mortgage broker, a Black-owned bank, or a Black appraiser, you’re working with someone who sees you. Not just your credit score or your W-2, but the story behind those numbers. Someone who knows what it’s like to be denied not because of income, but because of ignorance or indifference. Someone who knows how to pick up the phone and advocate for you in the underwriting room not just because it’s their job, but because it’s their mission.
They know the products and the process, yes, but more importantly, they know how to apply those tools to the unique realities we face, like multiple family members on title, inherited property from Big Mama, or having a thin credit file despite paying everything in cash.
This isn’t just about who signs the paperwork. It’s about trust, transparency, and cultural alignment, all of which increase your chances of not just buying a home but keeping it and building on it.
It’s not just business. It’s personal.
Homeownership Is Power
Let’s be clear; when I say “power,” I’m not talking about domination or arrogance. I’m talking about the kind of power that frees you from dependence and puts your destiny back in your own hands. The kind of power that allows you to say “yes” to your dreams and “no” to bad deals. The kind of power that rewrites your family’s story for the next 50 years.
Homeownership does that. It gives you equity, real equity, not just in the house, but in life. It’s the difference between scrambling to pay rent and watching your assets grow in value while you sleep. It’s the ability to refinance and pull out capital to start a business, pay off debt, or send your kids to college. It’s the key to stability when the economy shifts and rents rise out of reach.
And it’s not just about you. It’s about your children watching you sign that closing document. It’s about them knowing what’s possible. It’s about breaking the cycle of renting, struggling, and starting over. When we own, we anchor our families. We build neighborhoods, not just houses. We plant roots, and those roots become legacy.
Don’t Believe the Lie That “Money Doesn’t Matter”
We’ve all heard it: “Money isn’t everything.” But in America, money is access. It’s mobility. It’s options. It’s the difference between surviving and thriving.
We’ve been told not to chase money, not to talk about wealth, not to think about legacy. But let’s be honest…what has that silence gotten us?
Here’s the truth: economic power is how you get respect. Not because it makes you better than anyone else, but because it gives you the freedom to stand on your own terms.
We Don’t Want Handouts, We Want Ownership
I was raised to believe in work, in integrity, and in finding a way forward no matter what. I don’t want anyone handing me anything. I want to build. I want to earn. I want to empower others to do the same. That’s in my blood.
And after more than 30 years in the mortgage business, I can tell you firsthand: we don’t have to wait for anyone to give us permission to own. What we need is intention, action, and unity.
Let’s Balance the Economic Scales
The mission of Property is Power is simple: to close the racial homeownership gap, to circulate dollars within our communities, and to build the kind of economic power that commands respect across America.
We love this country. We contribute to it every day. But loving it also means demanding what’s rightfully ours: access, ownership, and opportunity.
So, here’s my challenge to you: Find a way to do business with someone Black this week. Whether it’s your lender, your realtor, your contractor, or your insurance agent make the conscious choice. Your decision will ripple far beyond that transaction. Together, we build. Together, we rise.
(Dr. Anthony O. Kellum – CEO of Kellum Mortgage, LLC
Homeownership Advocate, Speaker, Author
NMLS # 1267030 NMLS #1567030
O: 313-263-6388 W: www.KelluMortgage.com.)
Property is Power! is a movement to promote home and community ownership. Studies indicate homeownership leads to higher graduation rates, family wealth, and community involvement.
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