Learn from History and Continue
to Make it
By Alphonso Jackson

During this annual celebration of Black History Month, I want to take a moment to reflect on the importance of Black American history in my life and what I believe is our next challenge as a people. Our struggle for freedom, independence and equality are testimony to hard work, perseverance and the ability to achieve in spite of great odds. We stand on the shoulders of ex-slaves Harriet Tubman, Frederick Douglass, Sojourner Truth and George Washington Carver.

In the 20th century, we ignited the Civil Rights Movement that secured the right to vote and the abolition of separate but equal facilities. In the 21st century, our struggle continues as one of empowerment, and homeownership and asset building is one of the ultimate expressions of that empowerment. Homeownership is the key to realizing true independence, freedom and equality.

I grew up in segregated Dallas, Texas, in a house with hard working parents who instilled in their 12 children respect for their ancestors and strong values -- to work hard, earn your own way and to give back to your community. I was the second fastest sprinter in the state, but my state university, the University of Texas, said, "they weren't ready to accept black athletes." So rather than go to college in my home state, I went to Lincoln University, then an all-Black male school in Pennsylvania.

At Lincoln University, I became involved in the Civil Rights Movement, meeting top officials of Dr. Martin Luther King, demonstrating, and marching in protests. I was one of the 600 marchers on the Pettis Bridge in Selma, Alabama on Bloody Sunday, March 7, 1965 when state troopers attacked us. I was one of the 50 marchers who were hurt -- a dog sank his teeth into my left leg. That scar, that moment, and the historic purpose of the Civil Rights Movement, will always remain indelibly etched in my memory.

Today, the struggle continues but on a different level. We must insist that all families have an opportunity to live in safe communities, in decent housing, and that those who want to have an opportunity to own their own home and a piece of the American Dream, can.

I have dedicated most of my professional career to working to achieve this goal. As the former director of three urban housing agencies, I worked with public housing tenants to create opportunities for them to own their own homes and encouraged development of their own businesses and resident-controlled management companies.

In my current role as the Secretary of U.S. Department of Housing and Urban development (HUD), I enthusiastically embraced the president's national challenge to create 5.5 million new minority homeowners by 2010. Since that challenge was issued four years ago, 3.5 million new minority homeowners have joined the ownership society and the minority homeownership rate is now at an all time high of 51 percent. Yet it is 20 percent below the national average. There is still more work to do.

Homeownership is essential to empowerment. With the equity of a home, people can pay for their children's education, better plan for retirement, and pass assets on to their family. HUD programs such as HOME and the American Dream Down Payment Initiative help low-income households buy their first homes. HUD is also working with Congress to modernize the Federal Housing Administration to better reach underserved homebuyers who do not qualify for traditional financing.

The other key to empowerment is education – particularly higher education. For a people long denied to the right to read and write, we must insist that our children get the education they deserve. We cannot tolerate statistics that state there are more black males in prison or under the jurisdiction of the criminal justice system than there are in college. Because of the importance of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) to our people, we must continue to support them. HUD, for example, has given almost $60 million in grants since 1991 to HBCUs for the work they do in their local communities.

We have come a long way. We have Black Americans elected to all levels of political office from governors to mayors, from city council officials to US Senators and members of Congress. We have just seen a historic Super Bowl game, spotlighting two great black coaches leading their teams. And we have Black American scions of industry, leading Fortune 500 companies like American Express, Time Warner and Wachovia, to name a few.

This month, I urge you to not only remember all the great Black Americans who have come before you and who have blazed the trail, but to also think about how you can continue their work for the betterment of our people and those close to you. We must commit to empowering our families, our communities and ourselves so that true freedom can be realized. You have the ability to help your family and others achieve the American Dream of homeownership. Seize it, and seize it now.

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Alphonso Jackson is the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.