Today In Black History: Ben Slayton
The first African American to become an official Realtor.
Issue #989 Today In Black History, Monday, February 9, 2026
Ben Slayton was a pioneering entrepreneur and civil rights advocate whose six-decade career has been defined by a series of historic firsts that have fundamentally transformed opportunities for African Americans in the housing industry.
Ben Slayton’s most significant achievement came in 1964 when he became the first African American member of the National Association of Realtors®. This milestone may seem routine by today’s standards, but in the segregated 1960s, it represented a monumental breakthrough. Remarkably, Slayton had to pay $5,000 to a white member willing to sponsor his membership in the industry. This obstacle fueled his determination to open doors not just for himself, but for generations of African Americans to follow.
A real estate agent is a licensed professional who is authorized by their state to help clients buy, sell, and lease residential and commercial property. Real estate agents handle all aspects of real estate transactions, including document preparation and representing clients in negotiations.
A Realtor is a licensed real estate agent who is also an active member of the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR), the largest trade association in the United States. In addition to holding a valid real estate license, Realtors have agreed to abide by NAR’s strict Code of Ethics and standards of practice that go beyond what is required by state law.
Following his groundbreaking entry into real estate, Slayton continued to shatter glass ceilings. He became the first African American Century 21 Real Estate franchisee broker-owner. He also developed and built the first condominium project in the San Fernando Valley. Additionally, Slayton became the first person of any race approved by Freddie Mac as a Multifamily Program Plus Seller/Servicer, and he served on both Freddie Mac’s and Fannie Mae’s inaugural Affordable Housing Advisory Councils simultaneously—a distinction no one else has achieved.
In July 2018, at 78, Slayton founded Legacy Home Loans, a mortgage lending company based in Las Vegas, specifically to address the 30% homeownership gap between African American and white Americans. While 70% of white families own their homes, only 40% of Black families do—a disparity rooted in decades of discriminatory lending practices and systemic barriers.
Homeownership is one of the most effective wealth-building tools available, yet it has been systematically denied to Black Americans. Through Legacy Home Loans, Slayton set an ambitious goal: to lend $1 billion in mortgages to African Americans and to establish branch offices in every city with a significant Black population.
Ben Slayton’s driving motivation has always been to make a tangible difference in people’s lives. Throughout his career, he has advocated for fair housing practices, pushed for insurance coverage in underserved communities, and consistently used his position and influence to advance equity.
Today In Black History
In 1897, the British Expeditionary Force invaded, burned, and looted Benin City, ending the Nigerian Kingdom of Benin, which was formed in the 11th century.
In 1952, the novel “Invisible Man” by Ralph Ellison won the National Book Award.
In 1971, baseball legend Leroy Satchel Paige became the first Negro League player inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
In 1995, astronaut Dr. Bernard Harris Jr. became the first Black astronaut to take a spacewalk.
