The National Association of Real Estate Brokers (NAREB) grew out of the National Business League, founded in 1900 by Booker T. Washington as a vehicle for African American entrepreneurial development and in response to legalized racial segregation in America.

 

It is important to note that NAREB is an association of real estate professionals working together to improve business and equal access opportunities for its members and client base. Notwithstanding this fact, the Realtist founding motto of ‘Democracy in Housing’ is deeply rooted in the continuing struggle of equal treatment under the law for all American citizens.

 

For many years NAREB was the only professional business group in America promoting the vital importance of safe, fair, decent, and affordable homeownership opportunities for minorities and in the inner cities in America. NAREB vigorously lobbied for the passage of every proposed civil rights, fair housing, fair lending and urban economic development legislation before the U.S.Congress. NAREB also lobbied each presidential administration for support of fair housing and urban social economic development since 1947.

 

In February 1968 at the National Mid-Winter Conference in San Francisco, California, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. spoke before the members of the National Association of Real Estate Brokers. This was just a few months before he was assassinated. Dr. King talked about how a privately managed ‘Marshall Plan’ similar to the one initiated in Europe following World War II, is what was needed to revitalize the inner cities of America. Dr. King expressed that a ten billion dollar investment over ten years from the government would help attract and develop new and/or retain and improve existing businesses in America’s inner cities. The employed inner city residents would become homeowners in this revitalized urban economy and improve the social and economic climate of their communities. Programs such as the Empowerment Zones and Enterprise Community Reinvestment Act, Welfare to Work Grants, Earned Income Tax Credit, the Economic Development Initiative, and the Brownfield’s Economic Development Initiative, to name a few, are programs supporting Dr. King’s theory. 

 

The Memphis Chapter of NAREB was founded on August 28, 1969. The charter members were: William Adkins (founder of Adkins Insurance Co), Edward Davis (former State Senator), Victoria Lucas, Ural and Ardie Jones (owner of Ural Jones Realty), Reverend Lewis Harris (Lewis Harris Realty), Samuel Peace (Peace Realty), Lawrence A. Westley (the first African American President of MAAR), Jessie Williams. Other members joining during the year included: Walter Bailey (Attorney), Robert Baird, John Bolden, Floyd Bowie, Myrtle Fisher, Oris McKinney, Charles Nichols, Melvin Shegog, and Dan Suggs. Together the group set precedence for the recognition of African American Real Estate professionals.

 

The late Reverend Lewis Harris was elected the first President of the local chapter. In 1971, Mr. Edward Davis (State Senator) was elected President. Under his dynamic, capable leadership, the organization continued to grow and became recognized locally as an effective voice for democracy in housing. In 1973, Mr. Phillip Smaw, was elected President. During his tenure, the Memphis chapter became a National power.

 

The organization was granted a charter by the State of Tennessee on November 5, 1973. The Memphis Chapter gained national prominence in 1973 when it captured its first honor and was awarded a trophy for having the largest one year percentage increase (300%) in membership in national history. In 1976, Realtist, Azzie Harris, was awarded the Bicentennial Award. She also served as Regional Vice President from 1978-1982. In 1979, members Ural Jones and Azzie Harris was elected to the National Realtist Board of Directors. Mrs. Azzie Harris was the first African American female to become both a Housing and Urban Development and Veterans Administration Managing Broker for the state of Tennessee.

 

In the 1980s, President A.W. Willis Jr. spent numerous hours introducing and lobbying for affordable housing legislation on the national and state levels. The chapter hosted its first National Board of Directors meeting in Memphis during his presidency. It is his loyalty and steadfastness that epitomizes the spirit of the annual A.W. Willis Jr Award that is given to those promoting the Realtist spirit. President Willis also wrote the Home Revolving Loan Program used extensively by the country to house low to moderate income families.

 

The local chapter continues to be a driving force and committed advocate to creating change and improvement that readily affects the consumer and promotes ‘Democracy in Housing’. Members of the local chapter continue to serve in positions at both the local and national levels.