“You have dysentery”
Have you ever played the OG video game Oregon Trail?
For those of us from the Oregon Trail Game Generation (Hi, Gen. XS and our so-called “geriatric” millennials), we often have the risk of allowing dysentery to travel more than 2,000 miles per car in 1847-18488 to come to Oregon, but let us explain the context.
The Pre -MEMption Act of 1841 was the first big step in the direction of what we now consider as Homesteading legislation, which offered settlers the right to claim 160 hectares of federal land at a fixed price of $ 1.25 per hectare. This is around $ 45 in today’s money, so the starting point of the Oregon Trail Game of Dogmatic on the way to Oregon (and West) in 1847 is logical!
However, the Pre -MEMption Act of 1841 explicitly limited to white American citizens or immigrants who are actively looking for American citizenship. Although they do not explicitly ban white women, social norms and legal barriers often prevent single, white women who act as “heads of households” in practice. White widows or white women who manage estate can sometimes be eligible.
The Homestead Act of 1862 was a bending point that codified, probably for the first time the notion (without the explicit conditions) of diversity, equity and inclusion (dei) in home and land ownership because this was the first time in the US real estate that owned by liberated black Americans, immigrants. (The action was withdrawn in 1976, although it was destroyed during the large depression.)
Sidebar: Around that time the treaty of 1863 with the Nez Perce -Stame (with countries in Idaho, Oregon, Washington and Montana) was intended to protect the indigenous countries. But that time was characterized by often contradictory policy with regard to indigenous countries, where many treaties do not offer the protection they promised. Thus, the inclusiveness of this act, although a starting place, was still short of protecting indigenous tribes against the destruction of colonialism.
Over movement, John Dutton – Remember Biddy Mason
How fascinating the fictional home of John Dutton is (CF Yellowstone, 1923, 1883 TV shows) in thinking of homesteaders we have real inspiring figures whose stories are told more.
As a real example, “Aunt Biddy”, Bridgette Mason (1818-1891) was made slave, but because of her death she was known as one of the richest, most beloved women of Los Angeles.
Due to the inclusiveness of this law, Mason had both the legal access and the possibility to buy a plot between the 3rd and 4th in Spring Street for $ 250, making one of the first black and female landowners in LA.
Remarkable:
- Mason was co-founder of the first African methodist Episcopal Church in 1872, the first black church in LA, which often gathered Her land.
- She founded a daycare center for working parents Her land.
- She founded a primary school Her land.
- She created a traveler aid center and offered medical help to the needy, often from her house on Spring Street Her land.
In the end, Masons helped to shape land purchase to what we now know as the center of LA. She used her smart real estate investments – based on Lincoln’s 1862 law – for the well -being of everyone in her community, including immigrants.
Home and land ownership via the Homestead Act has helped American women to be literally owned to the possession of real estate for the improvement and service of our communities.
About you
“If you hold your hand close, nothing good can come in. The open hand is blessed, because it gives plenty, even when it receives.” – “Aunt Biddy” Mason
Historically, Dei is in real estate as one of the basic ingredients in a cake baking powder. You can make without a cake, but the cake won’t do it to get up as it should. Similarly, in history we know the times that the “baking powder” (diversity, fairness and inclusion) of real estate – communities are not omitted to get up As they should have, but stagnated and pockets by redline, steering, blockbusting, professional exclusion, forced relocation, subprime predatory lending, discriminatory CC & RS and other forms of unfair homes.
How has diversity, fairness and inclusion – either through laws, company policy or community initiatives – helped women in your life to get up Due to home and land ownership?
What is one thing that your team, company or association can start or continue to offer to ensure that all women are included in leadership and be able to get up Through home and land ownership?
Dr. Lee Davenport is a real estate coach/educator and author.
This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial department of Housingwire and the owners.To contact the editor who is responsible for this piece: [email protected].
