Umar: Every black church in America has their money in a white bank.
Invalid: My family's church has their accounts with one of the last black-owned banks in the country, a bank that was founded by one of its members.
^^^^^Cool Fact: This lady in yellow was a priest at my church and taught me how to waltz when I was an escort for a deb ball.
Her family owned both a funeral home and currently one of the 12 last existing black owned banks in the United States.^^^^^^^^^
Umar: Black churches are giving money to white banks who turn around and fund gentrification of the very neighborhoods these churches are located in.
Invalid: Additionally, our church bought back the block and kept housing affordable for the local residents and elderly.
And to add to this, my family's church is the largest property owner in Washington Park whose actual ministry is to provide affordable housing to area residents. So there has already been discussions on this, and they are not raising the rents on residents, even if there is an uptick in property value. An as you suggested, the neighborhood is still a bit grimey and is a food desert so there would be no rush for outsiders to move in, over, say Woodlawn, the Highlands, or South Shore.
I mentioned before that my church is the largest property owner in Washington Park. We own probably up to 50+ properties from Garfield to 63rd st. I'm talking about large apartment complexes. That tall apartment tower on 63rd Michigan is even owned by us. We have built a lot of new construction as well. We have a separate redevelopment corporation that manages all the properties.
I'm including the quotes so you can't say I'm telling ducktales.
Umar says a lot of slick shyt that delights the ears of susceptible Negroes but many times it's not based on reality.
Our church is not unique.
We even have stained glass windows of his
schools ancestors namesake.
So at this point at least one black church singlehandedly has done more for the black community than Umar has.