Hollywood actor Wendell Pierce claims his application to rent an apartment in Harlem was rejected because of his race.
The star, who played Robert, the father of Meghan Markle’s Rachel Zane in the hit legal drama series “Suits,” said he was denied housing despite having a steady income from several high-profile acting jobs.
“For those of you who can’t identify with my righteous anger, I’m in two TV series, Elsbeth and Raising Kanan. I’m also 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,” he said. I wrote to X Monday.
“Despite having proof of employment, bank statements and real estate holdings, a white apartment owner rejected my application to rent an apartment, of all places, in Harlem.”
“Racism and bigotry are real. There are people who will do anything to destroy black lives. Those who deny our personal experiences are just as vile and despicable,” Pierce, 60, added.
The next day, the star of “The Wire” Share the link To Wall Street Journal article A U.S. Federal Appeals Court ruling that doesn’t allow black-owned venture capital firms to make grants exclusively to black women entrepreneurs.
“While I appreciate the response to my own experience with housing discrimination, I only mentioned it as an example of the insidious nature of prejudice,” he said. I wrote to X Tuesday. “This court decision is deeply disturbing and harmful. Let’s take action.”
In a separate post, the actor commented on the decision, saying, “This law was enacted to protect former slaves from discrimination.”
“Edward Blum, an opponent of affirmative action, argues that the provision means race should never be a consideration in contractual relationships. It’s private money that the courts block, not tax money,” Pierce added.
He continued, “Laws are being enacted that prohibit discrimination against black businesses and block private investment in black businesses. This is the irony of racism. The same racist, bigoted, fascist Americans who burned down Tulsa’s Black Wall Street 100 years ago are alive and well today.”
“The attempt to deny black people the right to participate in ‘Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness’ is abhorrent. A private business transaction blocked by the courts. Whatever happened to government intrusion into our lives?”
Pierce is best known for his role as Detective Bunk Moreland in Suits and HBO’s The Wire.
He is set to play Perry White in James Gunn’s new DC Universe Superman film, due for release next year.
