The narrative of ‘Legacy Land’ offers a comprehensive exploration into the complexities surrounding hereditary land, articulated through the trials of a single man attempting to hold onto land bought over a hundred years ago by his great-grandfather, a former slave during the Confederate era. Heirs’ property typically refers to land bequeathed through generations, usually without clear, legal paperwork. Throughout the 20th century, Black Americans experienced a significant loss of land, diminishing around 80% of their property holdings that peaked mere decades following the Civil War. The reasons for this loss include not just theft, but also systematic inequities that disproportionately affected them.
The disparity in homeownership extends even to the present-day American society. The inequality is stark: in the year 2023, almost 27.2% of Black loan applicants faced rejection, a figure more than twice the percentage of their white counterparts based on an examination by the Urban Institute. Additionally, Black borrowers only made up a mere 8.5% of total mortgage borrowers the same year, indicating a clear lack of representation within the demographic.
In the subsequent year, 2024, the homeownership rate amongst Black citizens stood at 45.3%, astonishingly a massive 30% lower than that of white citizens, which was 74.4%. Housing carries a significant role in American wealth distribution. In 2021, white households constituted 65.3% of all US households and held a dominating 80.0% of the nation’s wealth, according to Census Department statistics.
As for Black households, they accounted for 13.6% of the total yet held a mere 4.7% of the national wealth. Comparing median wealth values, Black households had an average net worth of $24,520 which was just a fraction of the median net worth of white households, pegged at $250,400. This illustrated a vast financial chasm between the two racial groups.
Black land ownership witnessed its height approximately when John Thomas Jr., a formerly enslaved individual, acquired more than 300 acres after the Civil War. Over time, changing societal structures and conditions have consistently shifted the landmark for asset ownership. These events are not confined to history but have tangible effects within recent memory.
Looking back at the beginning of the 21st century, the subprime mortgage crisis partially hinged on predatory loans that were disproportionately extended to Black households as highlighted by extensive studies. Between the years of 2007 and 2013, Black households saw a staggering loss of home equity equating to $336 billion, covering 33.5% of the total losses, which even exceeded the 28% losses experienced by white households.
Familial savings were often tucked away in a coffee can, secretly buried within the premises, as one family member nostalgically recalled. Memories tie the narrative to a place, as in the case of Marie Jones who grew up not far from the Rayle property. Jones vividly recalls the intimidating presence of a Ku Klux Klan member from the community, noted for his habit of casually approaching their property clad only in an open pair of overalls, to menace her grandmother.
The town square in Washington, the capital of Wilkes County, is adorned with numerous historical markers paying tribute to the Confederacy. This is the place where Jefferson Davis executed his final duties as President of the Confederate States of America. On a day in recent history, a storefront displayed a poster promoting a Juneteenth celebration. However, an uncomfortable aura perpetually hangs over the area.
Shortly after this day, in a subsequent interview, Barnes shared that the management of their shared ancestral property had been under the vigilant eye of Yolande Minor, another family member residing in the Atlanta area. In the midst of handling legal complexities at the courthouse, Blair extended Barnes an information email detailing McIntosh Seed and the Federation of Southern Cooperatives, anticipating their support as they had provided to him.
At the time of this article’s publication, the exact fate of Barnes’ and Gamble’s tax situation has not been clarified. It appears probable they will need legal counsel to navigate through the complex issues of ownership. Lawyers opine that the situation provides a critical lesson emphasizing not only the importance of ensuring tax obligations are met, but also keeping land titles updated and within the correct owner’s possession.
Blair encountered Charles Ware, a reserved man sporting streaks of white in his neatly trimmed beard, through a kin living in the Rayle area. Parallel to Ware’s efforts, Blair had reached out to the same organization regarding his land, providing them with an array of documentation. This organization, the Law Center, often serves as the primary reference for most heirs’ property groups seeking legal advice.
Under this umbrella of guidance also falls the University of Georgia School of Law Land Conservation Clinic, a resource Blair discovered in June. Unfortunately, multiple attempts from USA TODAY to obtain a response from the Georgia Heirs’ Property Law Center proved unsuccessful.
Establishing this as a civil rights concern, Blanding argues that aiding small farmers should supersede political considerations regardless of the circumstances. However, Blair found himself dejected two weeks after his return home. Charles Ware, whom Blair had expected could help with the land issue, had ceased responding to his messages.
In addition, Blair feels his situation could benefit from a legal professional reviewing the LLC he established in order to verify its correctness. A poignant note is the lack of interest from the younger generation of his family for the inherited land. Blair’s effort to honor the legacy of his ancestors seems to be met with indifference from his children and his nieces and nephews.
Always leaving him with curt replies, Blair felt a sense of disappointment in seeing the younger generation’s lack of connection to their ancestor’s struggles and determination to attain the land. This disconnect, Blair mentioned in July, results in a loss of understanding towards the immense hardships once endured by John Thomas to establish their family’s estate. Fortunately, as Blair observes, it remains critical for the inheritors to maintain the legacy without any compromise or risk of losses, regardless of their emotional connection to it.
The post Unraveling the Cards of Inherited Land: A Story of Resilience appeared first on Real News Now.
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