A Letter To My Brother

Property is Power!

A Letter to My Brothers

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To Black men across this country, I see you. I feel you. I believe in you.

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I know what it feels like to try and lead while still healing. To wake up and do what’s expected of you when no one sees what you carry. I know the pressure of having to show strength in public, even when you're barely holding it together in private. That silence we wear like armor the unspoken rules about not showing weakness, not asking for help, not letting anyone see the weight. I've felt that too.

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But I need you to know something: you’re not just surviving you’re essential. You are not a broken version of a man. You are the foundation. You are the blueprint.

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We’ve been through a lot. Generations of being told we're not enough, not qualified, not welcome. And still we show up. Still, we grind. Still, we dream.But the truth is, dreams without ownership don’t get passed down. They just become struggles our children inherit. And that’s why I’m writing you today. Because ownership specifically homeownership isn’t just about buying land. It’s about reclaiming agency. It’s about building something that lasts beyond us.

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We don’t need to rehearse every barrier. You already know them. The numbers don’t lie. Only about a third of Black men in this country own homes.And while black women have made strides despite similar challenges, many of us feel like we’re stuck at the starting line discouraged by credit issues,overwhelmed by student debt, or just unsure where to begin.

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But let me be clear: the system is real; the barriers are real but we are not helpless. Yes, history played a role. But we’re not here to play that game. That’s not what this is about. This is about responsibility. This rising. This is about us taking control of what’s next, even if we didn’t create what came before.

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We push through. We build anyway. Because that’s who we are.

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And when we own, things change. Ownership roots us. It creates stability. It gives our children a home they don’t have to leave behind. It gives us equity not just financial, but emotional. It gives us confidence. It gives us options. It shifts our position in the world from someone waiting to be chosen to someone building something permanent.

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Our ancestors built this country with their hands and never got to own the land they worked. We are their wildest hope. And it’s time we reverse the story.

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You don’t need to be perfect to begin. You don’t need a perfect credit score or a six-figure salary. You need information, intention, and a plan.There are tools out there: assistance programs, flexible loan options, education courses, professionals who actually care about helping you succeed.Not everyone out there is trying to hustle you some of us are here to help you win.

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Homeownership isn’t just about where you sleep it’s about how you lead.It’s about creating a foundation for your children, your partner, your future. It’s about being the first one in your family to plant a flag. It's about walking through a door that stays open behind you, so others can follow.

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Start where you are. Ask questions. Learn what you don’t know. Find people who believe in your vision. And don’t stop I believe in you. I care about you. And I’m walking with you. Property is Power!

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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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