In celebration of Black History Month, we invited Douglas Elliman agents to share their experiences and reflect on the role their identity and heritage have played in their real estate careers.

Ryan Roberts, Agent, Brooklyn, NY

What aspects of your identity or experience as a Black person are most meaningful for you? Are there traditions or other aspects of your experience that are a particular source of pride?

The aspect of my identity as a Black person that is most meaningful to me is the ability to harness and use as fuel the unfathomable bravery, perseverance, faithfulness, and overall dogged determination of my ancestors. They faced incredible hardships and crippling injustices.

A source of pride for me is my unwillingness to give up in the face of the most insurmountable challenges—the challenges where sometimes you cannot see the other side or even the next step in front of you.

How did you find your path to success in real estate?

I found my path to success in real estate by doing the tough work of redefining my perspective and attitude toward real estate sales.

I adopted a “Put Service First” attitude. I became passionate and committed to helping all of my clients achieve their real estate goals, and, in turn, the more I gave, the more I began to receive.

My commitment to the practice of real estate runs deep, but my dedication to generating successful partnerships with my clients runs deeper.

What does Black History Month mean to you?

Black History Month is very important to me. My skin color is not a crime, but oftentimes in society, I am made to feel that it is. Black History Month highlights the achievements of Black Americans who have enhanced and improved every aspect of American life.  It is an opportunity to learn about the contributions of those who may have been overlooked or just blatantly omitted from the history books.

What would you like your industry colleagues to understand about your experience as a Black real estate professional?

There is nothing I would like my industry colleagues to understand about my experience as a Black real estate professional. I would just ask that they abide by their legal, fiduciary obligations as a real estate professional. When we all act in our clients’ best interests, everyone is treated fairly.

How do you think brokerages like Douglas Elliman can help foster greater diversity and understanding in the industry?

Brokerages like Douglas Elliman can help foster diversity and understanding in the industry by continuing to do what they have been doing consistently—being an equal-opportunity employer and providing its talented agents with unwavering support and cutting-edge resources to better compete and serve their clients.