Jackson Jambalaya

So a Brandon real estate agent tried to steer white buyers into neighboring cities in the same county instead of neighborhoods in a city in decline. The horror!

The complaint alone will bankrupt them no matter what their side of the story happens to be.

National Fair Housing Alliance (www.nationalfairhousing.org) is a consortium of more than 220 private, non-profit fair housing organizations, state and local civil rights agencies, and individuals from throughout the United State. I bet it president is Al Sharpton & Vice President is Jessie Jackson.

10:54, Why not steer all buyers into Brandon if Jackson was "a city on the decline"? Remember, the investigation posed different buyers with similar financials and desires to live in similar neighborhoods. The only differences were race. Why was Brandon a better choice for the white buyers but not for blacks?

Did the callers state in their voicemail(s) they were white or black? Is the government presuming that the listeners inferred they were black from their accents or language used? Wouldn't that be racist?

Excellent observation,10:48! In totalitarian states, denouncing a competitor has always been a good way to get ahead. And denouncements are more effective, if you're in cahoots with the Inquisitors/SS/KGB/Ruling Junta. A little cronyism, a little bribery, and those with the power to do harm, will harm those who are in your way.

Who is the "Fair Housing Alliance'? I am sure they get lots of taxpayer money.

I live in a nice neighborhood in Madison County and we have lots of blacks and whites living here. No big deal. Nobody complains and everyone gets along.

10:34a you don't see the issue or did you not read to comprehend?

"During one test, both the white and black testers requested information about the same foreclosed property located in Jackson, Mississippi. The white tester was told that the house was under contract and was offered information about other properties. An agent showed the white tester multiple homes, mostly located in the predominantly white areas of Pearl and Richland, Mississippi. In contrast, the African American tester was not able to speak with an agent after leaving several messages at the agency’s primary contact number and ultimately was not afforded the opportunity to see homes in the area."

Humans by nature seem to desire comfort, and part of comfort is living among those who have the same culture and values as you do. Blacks have certain social or cultural norms that are important and attractive to them, as do Whites, Indians, Jews, you name it. We all want to, for the most part, live among people who are similar to us. Why is that such a bad thing?

12:48, c'mon. Surely you don't believe your own bs.

@11:14, the Government isn't alleging anything yet. This is just a complaint by a private organization that was filed with the government. Your point is still valid, though, and I'm not sure how The Fair Housing Alliance will be able to prove much of anything or how anything they have would be actual evidence. We aren't seeing indictments based on the fairly long undercover videos showing government employees doing things that are clearly illegal, so even if they have video, anyone could be able to argue about what happened just before or just after the video started.

Of course that probably won't matter to the Obama Administration and I'm sure there will be indictments and even if not, the public shaming will have met their purpose anyway.

How is 12:48 bs? You can ride through any black neighborhood and ride through any white neighborhood and clearly see what he is talking about. I prefer to be around people with a similar culture as well. I've reached the point that I don't even care if this causes me to be labeled a racist.

How come no one ever states that the black neighborhoods need to be more diverse? Divirsity is only forced onto white people.

12:48 doesn't grasp the issue, which is that the freedom to choose was denied. Suburban realtors are enforcing racial segregation by denying black applicants equal access to the same living options made readily available to whites. That's illegal. And gross.

I'd like to send the NFHA more money, so it can systematically test, expose and disgrace every racist business operator and government employee in Madison and Rankin counties. Let's test commercial RE sales and leases next. Then let's send some equally-qualified applicants to some of these all-white businesses and see who gets hired. Be sure to test high-end retailers, law firms, insurance agencies, and check for discriminatory hiring practices in local government offices.

Get a load of the guy who thinks Madison isn't segregated! Madison MS, according to the U.S. Census, is 92% white. The state of Idaho is 89% white. So Madison is literally whiter than Idaho.

@1:55 I believe the poster you're referring to is 11:25 and he said he lives in Madison County, not the city. Madison County is 58% white. Facts don't have an agenda.

Is the Randy Inman mentioned the husband of Sandra Inman of the Chris McDaniel fame?

Lots of these things are judgment calls. Realtors don't make money by showing houses to people who are not qualified to get a loan. I do not know how the callers were identified as "black" or "white" but I bet it has to do with the names they provided.

If Robert Gray calls, I bet he gets shown a house...and he is black.

If Talaquandria'la~dashshea calls and its a busy day...that call does not get returned. Odds are that person does not qualify for a loan in these parts and I can opt to not waste my time dealing with that person.

This complaint, as it has been relayed, is bogus.

1.) We need to get a list donors from the National Fair Housing Alliance.
2.) Check the list of Mississippi donors.
3.) Look for a conflict of interest of said donors.
4.) Establish a connection between the real estate eniety.

As a former agent with 15 yrs. experience, I never showed a home to a prospective buyer unless they were pre-qualified by a bank and had the letter in hand that I was able to call and verify. If they were just looking, I told them to go to open houses. If they're legitimate buyers, then they've gone through mountains of paperwork and aren't wasting my time. I then would only show them properties up to their bank qualified amount. I also let them pick out the properties they wanted to see. They were given access to all the MLS listings while in the office. As far as foreclosed properties are concerned, most are CASH ONLY or you bid on them, which takes a pre-certification letter to even put in a bid. You can screen testers out in a minute, by driving them to the bank of THEIR choice, to assist them in getting pre-qualified. Works everytime and it's not discrimination as you aren't wasting the clients or your time, or putting false hopes into the minds of prospective buyers. I also had each buyer sign a statement that was notarized, after each "house hunting" excursion, or when an offer was submitted, that they were given the opportunity to view any and all properties that they wished to view. This was done for EVERY client I ever worked with. My yearly sales were always in excess of $2 million as I sold homes to Buyers, not Lookers or those looking to make a statement that they were the objects discrimination.

Racism? Rankin? Nah.

I am a known cash buyer of houses and I could not get Lee or Rita to call me back either. I will be happy to be deposed on this matter. Lee and Rita list houses like mad men, not take unknown buyers around for looky-loo.

It is racist to assume that any realtor identify a person's race by accent, name or appearance.

I could make a scenario that any realtor would reject on the phone.

I know the majority of the active agents in town and none would turn down a buyer but if you are looking for a cheap forclosure in the hood, there are only a handful of agents that will do those and they will drop you like a rock if you don't have cash and generally they might go show it to you once. They make around a grand on those so don't expect lots of service or hand holding.

These testers are like perpetual professional slip and fall victims.
Agents should be allowed to look after their personal interest, plenty of
agents of all races if you don't geehaw with a certain one.

Go screw yourself testers.

Just saw the commercial this morning where Barbara Cocoran of Shark Tank endorsed them. Wondering if it will run again!

5:09 articulated well-

This group is only relevant if it finds someone to accuse of racism. Think they may have tried to be ignored or treated differently when they were putting these realtors through their test? Nah, no one with an axe to grind would ever do that.

@3.50
As a very qualified home buyer, iIf you did that to me, I would tell you to go fuck yourself. Bet you used real pressure on young kids and others intimidated by buying houses. Maybe you should sell cars at 22% interest to single moms

I find it hard to believe that in this economy anyone who got paid on commission would not return callers who were interested in buying something. It is just not credible at all.

I have heard of agents showing houses to some people for a year, after five and on weekends and when they find something they like and think they can buy the realtor finds out they can't buy a cold cup of coffee on a hot afternoon.

I know of another where a couple kept looking at a particular house, the homeowners had to leave on three different weekends while the same agent showing the house had to get babysitters for her kid to show them the house, they came to look again with a second agent and when the listing agent found out who it was it was revealed another agent in the listing agents office said of them, why are they looking, they are in the middle of building a custom house.

Yes folks, they were using agents to get ideas from that house.

2:20, Nah, different Sandra.

Is a realtor obligated by law to go to any house on the MLS to show anyone who calls, someone they have no buyers agent agreement with?

Are they under contract to be at the beck and call of anyone who can dial their number.

I am a contractor and I do not work in many areas of the metro. I don't go look, they are not my customers, I don't want them as my customers and I feel no obligation to assist them. Do realtors not have the same rights?

How can someone prove a realtor can tell the race of a person on the phone or that that person even listens to their voicemail? Without a buyer identifying their race to a realtor, I don't see a case.

Realtors execute contracts and if they don't have a buyers agreement, is the realtor supposed to jump and work for someone for free.

through comprehensive education, advocacy and enforcement programs, provides equal access to apartments, houses, mortgage loans and insurance policies for all residents of the nation

I just read their mission statement and not working with a buyer in a high crime area is not listed.

@ 7:03- How can you intimidate someone when your showing them everything in their price range, in any area they choose. The banks charge the interest rates, the SELLER pays the commission, and the SELLER sets the price of the property. As far as being a well qualified buyer, I believe you. Before I spend my time and gas carting you around, I want a "2nd" opinion from a bank. Why would I take you into someone's private residence, let you examine their closets and furnishings if you weren't bank qualified. I've seen "prospective buyers" (at open houses) smell up bathrooms, try to change diapers on a kitchen table or couch only to be told, "we're just looking." I'm certain you would love to have unqualified buyers and possibly future burglers snoop around your home (which I can't be held accountable for). Tell me to F@@@ off, you deserve whatever comes through your front door.

The testers have been in Madison for the last 6 months. My wife shows houses on weekends and has had 2 black testers (BF alone, and another BF & her "husband). She thought she was being set up b/c they asked maybe one or 2 questions about the house and were gone. I told her that as long as she treated them the same as whites looking at houses, then no problem. My wife has never asked for the bank loan statement. She did say there are more Indians than blacks looking at housing in Madison.

After reading the complaint I think that this whole thing is a crock of poop. It should not be a crime for people to protect their property values by keeping welfare thugs out of their neighborhoods. These so called "testers" have been swarming around here for a while. I think that I have been probed more that once. Maybe is these HBC's spent a little more time teaching grammar and correct pronunciation they would get a little further in life. If I get a phone call and the first two questions they ask are "do you take HUD" and "how many BETROOMS are there" I know exactly what color they are.

Let me complete 8:23's comment:

"After reading the complaint I think that this whole thing is a crock of poop. It should not be a crime for people to protect their property values by keeping welfare thugs out of their neighborhoods. These so called "testers" have been swarming around here for a while. I think that I have been probed more that once. Maybe is these HBC's spent a little more time teaching grammar and correct pronunciation they would get a little further in life. If I get a phone call and the first two questions they ask are "do you take HUD" and "how many BETROOMS are there" I know exactly what color they are."

Signed:

Your local (Brandon MS) Re/Max agent

8:23, you are part of the problem with this State. Grow up.

10:40

You forcing your diversity with its criminals on us is the problem with this nation. Get over it.

10:40, I'm not forcing anything on you. The law is not on your side. It's 2015. In America, minorities can live where they want. I cannot believe that has to be explained to you.

Still, you are part of the problem.

Did the testers approach as many black realtors as white realtors? If not, then are the testers racist?

@11:12
Of course minorities can live where they want. Nobody ever said differently. It must be understood though, a landlord or bank lender is not required to to lower their standards to accommodate anyone's financial or family situation. To keep property values high, private home rentals in Madison, Flowood and Brandon don't generally accept HUD vouchers to assist with rent. If you have good credit and credit score, a steady, verifiable job that you've had for 3 or more years, and monthly income 3 times the rental price, which is verified by 3 separate W2's, and nobody living with you has felony or violent misdemeanor convictions, you're good to go. It's not big deal. How is it when a minority is refused a loan or rental because of a poor background check, lack of a verifiable job or steady income it discrimination. Nobody, white or black is entitled to anything that they don't earn.

2:16, where did the article mention HUD vouchers? In addition, there are several other factors that you believed to have played a role in the real estate agent's alleged conduct: credit score, employment status, income, criminal history, etc.

However, NONE of those listed factors played a role in this test. The article clearly states: "The [white and black] testers were similarly-qualified and had similar housing preferences." Maybe you imagine those listed factors to be an issue whenever you are dealing with an African-American?

Regardless of the fact that all of the testers were similarly-qualified, they were treated differently, according to their race. Since you seem to read the comments before the actual article, I will place that part of the article here, conveniently in the comments section (so you will actually read it):

"The agents steered the white home seekers away from interracial neighborhoods in Jackson, which is majority African American, and into majority white areas such as Pearl, Ridgeland, Richland, Clinton, Madison County, Rankin County, and Palahatchie. Conversely, the African American testers who inquired about properties in the Jackson area were often never called back and were generally provided very limited information.

During one test, both the white and black testers requested information about the same foreclosed property located in Jackson, Mississippi. The white tester was told that the house was under contract and was offered information about other properties. An agent showed the white tester multiple homes, mostly located in the predominantly white areas of Pearl and Richland, Mississippi. In contrast, the African American tester was not able to speak with an agent after leaving several messages at the agency’s primary contact number and ultimately was not afforded the opportunity to see homes in the area"

That being said, what exactly is the relevance of your comment? You cannot assume that some of the testers tried to supplement their rent with HUD vouchers or that they have a criminal history just because they are black. If none of your imagined factors played a role here, what excuse do you have for the agents' alleged behavior?

8:23: "Maybe is these HBC's spent a little more time teaching grammar and correct pronunciation they would get a little further in life. If I get a phone call and the first two questions they ask are "do you take HUD" and "how many BETROOMS are there" I know exactly what color they are."

Other than the buried HUD statement, wtf do those issues have to do with anything about suitability of ownership? If you weren't a racist, you would just say, "If I get a call, and they ask whether I take HUD, I turn them down." Instead, you bring up HBCs, cultural language norms and knowing exactly what color they are, which appear to be your litmus tests.

Quit being an asshole who keeps our state in the mud, please. (Also, don't bitch about grammar and pronunciation, then fail miserably at spelling and proper punctuation while making your point).

General rule of thumb, no matter how lax or seemingly invasive your policy is, you need to treat every racial group the same. Some of us who have managed businesses with regulatory bodies hovering over said businesses wonder how you are operating in the 21st century with actions such as these.
Even if you get that bad gut *feeling* from years of experience, treat all inquiries the same. If you're making 'judgement calls' on the fly without a set equality policy engrained in stone and in practice, then your likelyhood for getting sued goes from 50% to about 150%.

Treat everyone the same. It's not a hard concept. Your personal prejudices aren't worth loosing your right to earn a living. That's the bottom line,

You know what KF? You edit this, you censor that...well, I am done with your nonsense. As far as I am concerned you can go fuck yourself.

6:45PM is absolutely correct. Doesn't make it any easier to swallow tho. The truly sad part is your likelihood for getting sued is still 50%, even when everything is done by the book. Funny how being a white, straight, Christian male is a professional hazard in this day and time.

"Funny how being a white, straight, Christian male is a professional hazard in this day and time."

Really? When is the last time a student who fit that description was arrested for bringing a clock to school or the last time someone made the argument that straight Christians should not have the right to marry? Go cry me a river. I fit all four of those categories you just listed. It is not hard to be white, straight, Christian, or male here in America. Actually, I find it quite easy.

Now, if you find the following advice from 6:45 hard to follow: "you need to treat every racial group the same," and "Your personal prejudices aren't worth loosing your right to earn a living," then maybe the term "Christian" does not apply to you after all.

What about all the white kids suspended or expelled for drawing pictures of guns, wearing NRA shirts, or pointing their thumb and finger to resemble a gun?

There has been zero tolerance madness and stupidity for quite some time. This kid just happened to be the latest one and just happened to be dark skinned.

Kingfish, I don't disagree that the schools went overboard by punishing a kid for wearing an NRA shirt. Honestly, I'm surprised you know the kid's skin color. In no way does not this comment defend how those schools reacted to kids "pointing their thumb and finger to resemble a gun."

However, you yourself mentioned the difference between guns and clocks: a zero tolerance policy exists as to one but not the other. True, the schools you referred to (wrongfully) extended the zero-tolerance policy to an absurd level. However, there is no policy against clocks in school.

I'm sorry, but your story about kids (still not 100% sure they were white) being suspended by anti-gun nuts is not evidence that white people are picked on in America more so than minorities. In fact, there's plenty of evidence that it is the other way around.

Signed,

-White, straight, Christian, Southern male

is not evidence that white people are picked on in America more so than minorities.

I never said they were one way or the other. I'm just pointing out how the zero tolerance policy has been abused over the years.

I'm trying to sell a house. I'm a white, Christian, male living in Madison. I don't give a shit who buys it. That's my Christian attitude. If I found out my realtor (with whom I have a contractual agreement) is steering people away from the house, she/he is fired.

I don't believe this crap happens today. It may have happened forty years ago in smaller communities where the person showing houses was also an insurance agent, member of the women's circle, a cub scout leader, served on the neighborhood cleanup committee and was a member of the preacher-locatin' gang down to the church. Her 'friends' would have run her out of town if she had integrated their communities.

Agents and Realtors simply want to make a buck. Like everybody else. As long as you don't climb in their Lincoln with dog-crap on the soles of your shoes, they could care less.

I just want to point something out to everyone: there is no mention of what phone number was called for these "tests", but for that particular Re-Max team (consisting of 6+ Realtors and staff; also not in the same office as LORGROUP), there is one "main" contact phone number- that line also does not contact the same Realtor each time. Its on a publicly unknown rotation - depends on the day of the week. So, how was this a controlled test? Which Realtor was the ORIGINAL complaint (by an actual customer, not a mystery shopper) actually made against? This team also has "departments"- a Buyer's specialist, Seller's specialist, Closing specialist, and, I believe a HUD Home specialist. Each specialist has different goals, so for business purposes, not every caller will reach a "buyer's specialist", who will be more interested in showing and selling to a buyer.
I also happen to know that if you call any Realtor about any house in ANY city, most ask if you are pre-qualified. WHY?! Because unless you are paying for THEIR car, THEIR gas, THEIR tires, and THEIR TIME away from their family, YOU ARE WASTING their time and MONEY! It's inconsiderate, regardless of your "protected group" status.
ALSO- this was a "non-profit" organization who did the "tests", and, I can only assume, also received the initial complaint. Was the initial complaint of discrimination ever disclosed to the Real Estate Agency or Agent? If not, why? Also, FHA complaints are not screened for ACTUAL discrimination- they are processed and then tested. This would be like a police officer writing you a ticket and not giving you a copy (notice/disclosure), then going to Court on your behalf (even though the officer is the accuser), the Court orders a bug planted on your personal vehicle (without your knowledge) to track speeds and locations. A year after the initial traffic ticket you didn't know you had, you get a letter from the DMV that your drivers' license has been completely revoked and you have been charged with armed robbery because your vehicle showed that you were near the address where the crime was committed. Of course, you are eventually cleared of the crime, but not without TOTAL personal and career damage to yourself and your family.
Last I checked, we live in AMERICA. Last I checked, we ALL have RIGHTS - even the Real Estate Agents that these allegations have been made against. This is like getting a DUI without any field sobriety test- but the officer says you were drunk anyway. Who will the Court believe? The officer or the citizen? Are we all so gullible as to jump on these people who HAVE NOT gotten to defend themselves (they still have no copy of any complaint, by the way). They don't even know WHO supposedly did WHAT or WHEN. This has political agenda written all over it. Jackson, Mississippi hasn't made national news for riots or death threats, so let's stir the pot somewhere else.
Maybe the MEDIA should WAIT for ALL the facts to come out, and then write your opinion. Also, just a thought to chew on: what areas in Rankin County were shown? How does anyone know, without details, that properties shown weren't based on PRICES rather than a tester's race? There are several neighborhoods in Rankin County that have an equal or even higher African American population. Just seems like "RACE BAIT" and the media and anyone with a victim complex is BITING without seeing the shimmer of the treble hook.

As with any charge of race discrimination (by or with a federal agency, the accused is guilty until they prove themselves innocent. This is not a euphemism. It's the damned proof. Any employer, for example, accused of race, sex, age, disability, veteran or religion-based discrimination has the lengthy and cumbersome task and ordeal of proving himself not guilty. And the federal agency sits back and chuckles as the employer (in those cases) struggles through the process.

I'm sure it's the same with the kind of bullshit covered in this blog-thread. It's backwards justice and something we might expect to see in a Middle-Eastern country.