NEW ORLEANS – According to the Players Coalition, a group composed of NFL players and other sports figures, Black Americans have lost millions of acres of agricultural land accrued over the past century. This organization is advocating for legislative measures aimed at assisting Black families in preserving their property across generations.

Recently, Players Coalition founder Malcolm Jenkins, a retired football safety, along with Arizona offensive tackle Kelvin Beachum, led a forum titled “Building Black Wealth” at a convention center where Super Bowl media coverage is taking place. The discussion was moderated by former safety Jeremiah Brown and featured Thomas Mitchell, a Boston College law professor, and Adrienne Wheeler, the executive director of Louisiana Appleseed.

Jenkins emphasized the coalition’s commitment to economic progress, particularly within communities of color. He noted that after the Civil War, African Americans managed to acquire over 16 million acres of land, a fact he attributes to their “heroic efforts.” However, Jenkins pointed out that since 1910, a significant portion of this land has been lost, primarily due to legal barriers established during the Jim Crow era, which made it exceedingly difficult for Black families to pass down their properties to future generations.

He remarked, “African-Americans were covertly relegated to a status of second-class ownership, unable to engage with legal professionals to ensure the continuity of their land and the accompanying benefits typically afforded to property owners.”

Mitchell shared insights into his work aimed at assisting Black individuals in acquiring and maintaining property. He disclosed that he was tasked with drafting legislation intended to provide families with more stability in land ownership. After three years, he completed the draft in 2011, which has since been adopted in 23 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

“There exists a substantial racial gap in estate planning that many may not be aware of,” Mitchell stated, highlighting that just over 20% of Black and brown families have a will or any form of estate plan, whereas the figure for white families is about 40% higher.

Wheeler from Louisiana Appleseed detailed the organization’s efforts, in partnership with the Players Coalition, to heighten awareness surrounding these issues and to advocate for substantial changes to better ensure that property ownership is maintained across generations.