Autumn 2020: President’s Perspective

Injustice, a major topic of discussion in 2020, is a result of biases, both implicit (the biases we are unconscious of) and explicit (the biases we are conscious of and intentional about). These biases can relate to race, gender, age, disability and more. As REALTORS®, we are beholden to the Code of Ethics, and explicit bias has no place in our industry or work. Science has suggested, however, that implicit bias can exist despite our best efforts to suppress it, and suppression can be difficult, as biases are often learned behaviors. It is critical that we are aware of these biases, as we are accountable for creating equal housing opportunities for everyone in our communities. It is important for us to be able to recognize and reverse our biases when they may become prevalent. Implicit bias can be seen in real estate in a variety of ways. Say, for example, you receive an email from a potential client. How are you perceiving their name? Are you making assumptions based on their credit scores or neighborhood? The best way to remedy implicit bias is to surround yourself with diverse groups of people and derive positive situations from this experience. It is also important that those around us hold us accountable for our actions. Having an outside perspective to take notice of things we may not notice ourselves is a great way of knowing what your biases are and how to address them. There are trainings available, both through the Chicago Association of REALTORS® and the National Association of REALTORS®, to help you professionally. Classes such as the Code of Ethics: Your Promise to Professionalism, Fair Housing and At Home with Diversity, will help you to rethink your biases and be more aware of them. NAR has also recently released online implicit bias training, which is based off research from the Perception Institute that helps overcome stereotypes and biases with specific strategies and tactics to ensure fairness as a professional. It is our job as REALTORS® to ensure everyone has equal access to housing. Together, we all have an obligation to do the work to recognize and address bias in our industry. Maurice Hampton 2020 President Chicago Association of REALTORS®