‘Raising Kanan’ Star Wendell Pierce Says He Faced Discrimination While Trying To Rent An Apartment: ‘Racism & Bigots Are Real’

Wendell Pierce

‘Raising Kanan’ Star Wendell Pierce Says He Faced Discrimination While Trying To Rent An Apartment: ‘Racism & Bigots Are Real’

TV actor Wendell Pierce recently expressed his frustrations about racism in America.

The Power Book II: Raising Kanan star opened up about being denied an apartment rental allegedly because of his race, condemning those who engage in discriminatory practices.

Wendell Pierce

Wendell Pierce vented about the matter in several tweets posted to his X account (formerly Twitter). Speaking directly on his experience being denied an apartment rental despite his success and career, the 60-year-old wrote:

“For those of you who don’t understand my righteous anger; I’m on 2 TV series, ELSBETH and RAISING KANAN. I’m filming SUPERMAN. Two years ago, I finished the fourth season of JACK RYAN. Last year I finished a run on Broadway in DEATH OF A SALESMAN. Even with my proof of employment, bank statements and real estate holdings, a white apartment owner DENIED my application to rent the apartment…..in Harlem, of all places,”

He continued:

“Racism and bigots are real. There are those who will do anything to destroy life’s journey for Black folks. When you deny our personal experiences, you are as vile and despicable.”

The entertainer clarified in a subsequent post that he was only sharing the experience to bring attention to a recent court case that voted to block a Black-owned business from providing funding to help Black women entrepreneurs. In case you’re unfamiliar, on Monday (June 3rd), the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals controversially ruled against the Atlanta-based Fearless Fund, which is a contest that awards $20,000 in grants and mentorship to Black women who are hoping to expand their brands and businesses.

The court ruled 2-1 that the contest was unconstitutional, with opposers citing a Reconstruction-era civil rights law, Section 1981 – which prohibits the use of discrimination in contracts and was established to protect formerly enslaved people, as their defense. Speaking about the matter, Wendell Pierce wrote in another post:

“While I appreciate the response to my own personal experience of discrimination in housing, I only mentioned it as an example of the insidious nature of bigotry. This court decision is profoundly more disturbing and injurious. CALL TO ACTION”

And followed up in another post:

“SYSTEMATIC RACISM IS A CHRONIC DEBILITATING AND DESTRUCTIVE FORCE IN AMERICA. To ignore it is revisionist history. All progress in this country is because of those people of goodwill who fight against it and illuminate it. The Fearless Fund Case is a perfect example.”

Thoughts? Leave them for us in the comments section below!