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George Wilborn is not only the victim of the couple's discrimination, he is also a co-host of The Michael Baisden Show. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development announced on August 10 that they will charge Daniel and Adrienne Sabbia, as well as their real estate agent Jeffrey Lowe with violation of fair housing laws.
According to HUD, the family and their agent stalled negotiations with Wilborn and even took the home off the market in order to avoid selling it to him. Wilborn and his wife Peytyn offered $1.7 million for the house, which was the highest offer the couple had received in two years. Lowe, the real estate agent, admitted that the couple did not want to sell the home to the Wilborn family because they are black.
"Racial fairness is important at all income levels. Civil rights enforcement must be the effective shield against housing discrimination that in this case wealth was not," said John Trasviña, HUD Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity.
"We went and saw the house one more time and as we left, something occurred," Willborn said. "My family and I felt strange. Let's just say it was a really quiet ride home after this happened."
Wilborn filed a complaint in January about the Sabbia's behavior. After finding out that the complaint had been filed, they offered to sell the home, fully furnished, for $1.8 million. The Wilborns declined to take the second offer. Wilborn plans to take the issue as far as he can, including speaking about it in public.
Good for George Wilborn. For every case of discrimination that goes reported, there are hundreds that are swept under the rug. By using the courts to remedy such discrimination, Wilborn has put others on notice that this kind of behavior will simply not be tolerated. I am also happy to see that Wilborn didn't reward the alleged racists in this situation by taking their second offer. If they did indeed discriminate against Wilborn because of his race, they should learn very quickly that racism is just not profitable.
Dr. Boyce Watkins is the founder of the Your Black World Coalition and a Scholarship in Action Resident of the Institute for Black Public Policy. To have Dr. Boyce commentary delivered to your email, please click here. 
Comments: (108)
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By: Watcher Watchmen on 8/19/2010 3:05PM
@ Larissa Glanton: Not exactly as cut and dry as you're making it sound and yes, we do know a lot more about real estate than your response implies.
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By: Orville on 8/19/2010 1:06AM
What we have to realize there is no such thing as a White neighborhood or Black neighborhood. There is predominantly black or white neighborhood.People can live where ever they chooses, but white people think because it is predominantly white it belongs to them. They dont realize that you cannot discriminate in housing, regardless of where the properties are.
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By: pkd on 8/17/2010 8:02AM
I TOTALLY AGREE WITH THE WILBORNS
THERE IS SO MUCH RACIAL DISCRIMINATION IN THE HOUSING MARKET.
I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO BUY A HOUSE FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS.THE WHITES KEEP THE BETTER HOUSES FOR THEMSELVES AND REFUSE TO SELL THEM TO BLACKS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.IT IS SO BAD ,IF YOU FILE WITH THE GOVERNMENT,THEY GIVE IT TO THE LOCAL STATE LEVEL THAT SWEEPS IT UNDER THE RUG. THIS IS SO ILLEGAL, THAT THE GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO TAKE CHARGE
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By: Sky on 8/17/2010 8:06AM
Mr. Wilborn, take your 1.7 million and build a school, hospital, home for abused/abandoned children, medication for aid or to fight malaria, or to purchase medical supplies for the poor in any part of Africa.
Build a well for $3,000.00 to supply clean water to drink, or to plant food to farm to feed millions in different parts of Africa. That would be well appreciated.
When one has that amount of money it should not be wasted on a house. There are many who live in villages in mud huts or made of grass.
We all should be thankful we are in this country and have access to clean water and have a bed not the floor for sleeping.
To all of you who has millions, think of others in other parts of the world. You cannot take your millions/billions with you.
A house is not a home, regardless of how much money you pay to the seller.
Does it harm to think of others? We are all human regardless of where one is born or how much money one has.
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By: JMJ on 8/21/2010 1:44PM
who says he's not doing these things. He still needs a place to live and why can't it be where he wants it to be. Just because he's buying in a white neighborhood does not necessairly mean he rejecting the black cause.
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By: Marlene Franklin on 8/17/2010 8:45AM
When whites want to move into black neighborhoods, it is called gentification. They make sure every black is put out of the neighborhood before they will move in.
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By: jwarfield on 8/18/2010 9:59AM
All this is so true. Whites will not sell to blacks,correction some whites. But that is their right! It does not make it the right thing to do, but it is their constitutional right as an American. ilive in Texas,dallas to be exact. I am a homebuyer in one of the mostly black suburbs. I did not seek to buy into one of the many "NICE" suburbs as many of my friends do/did. I see/saw no need to force myself on anyone, i am comfortable with"my People"as neighbors. As much as possible I shop close in my neighbor stores. I have friends that will not shop in a black area, even Walmart? Walmart is Walmart to me. But the real issue is Black(a lot of us) want to prove they can live in their communities(whites) . To me i will not be hassled this way. i have 6 brothers in laws 5 of them are married to white women, when buying a house they let their wives go look and speak with the real estate broker/seller. But 1 of my sister in laws informed me. everything you do is coded, your electricity, your ph. svc, cable all utilities are coded so as to note you are a Black household, white household? think I'm kidding, if you have a whitte neighbor, compare their kilowatts to yours, for the same company, same service. It's a quiet unknown fact.Racism will always be! the better jobs, better pay, better homes etc. I tell my friends who move to "white areas" youare traitors thats all, I see. If you cnannot live amongst your own people, how can you expect to fit in where you are not wanted, appreciated. Everything you do is scrutionized, too many cars, grasstoo tall, dogs etc. Beleive me when you are Black and move into a predominately "white neighborhood" you have been thorooughly screened, by your neighbors, police etc. and if asked they can tell you where youwork, who lives in the house etc. Please beleive,Racism still exists. But we as a people(black) should look out and patronize our own. They (white) do!!! I'm just saying.and i am am Proud to be Black in America.!!!
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By: Unknown on 8/17/2010 8:58AM
This is a perfect illustration of why tea party losers like Rand Paul are so dangerous. Under their America, behavior like this would be perfectly okay because it would be considered a personal business choice. Some people don’t realize that there are indeed individuals out there who may not care about money because their hate overrides common sense. If Rand Paul and other idiots like him succeed, this is the path this country is going to take. Wake up America!
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By: Julie Medlin on 8/17/2010 7:02PM
Let this be a wake up call to all of Black America. It just goes to show you that regardless of your status you are still a N*&%$# in the eyes of White America.
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By: Robb on 8/17/2010 9:51AM
I find the Chicago couple aberrant and demonic behavior, foolish and certainly uncalled for. I'm a true living man of (Almighty God)and refuse to bow down to those who think they are superior over any group of people. This white superiority complex that most white folk have, has gone to far and people of color must hold them accountable for thier actions! I'm glad that George Wilborn and his beloved wife took a stance against racism. These racist degenerates must be held accountable for their unrighteous and (CLAN)like mentality.
The Jim Crow and Willie Lynch era, hasn't really changed. The realization of those white folks who hate in the name of their father Satan..., days are certainly numbered. The Lord will not turn a blind eye to those who steal from the poor and discriminate whenever they see fit. The Lord will not have any pity on those who systematically hate and discriminate for whatever reason. May the Lord bless us all and not just America. Please pray for peace and those who still suffer due to racism...
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