Former realtor association president Dorothy Botsoe releases first book on fair housing

Dorothy Botsoe, a White Plains real estate broker and former Hudson Gateway Association of Realtors president, has published her first book, Access Denied. The memoir centers on housing discrimination, her path from Ghana to the U.S., and why fair housing still matters in today’s market.

Why it matters: - Dorothy Botsoe’s story connects personal experience with a broader housing issue that remains relevant despite federal fair housing protections. - Access Denied frames fair housing as both a civil rights issue and a business issue for real estate professionals and homebuyers. - The book adds a veteran industry voice to ongoing conversations about discrimination in housing and access to neighborhoods.

What happened: - Dorothy Botsoe, broker/owner of Dorothy Jensen Realty, Inc. in White Plains, New York, launched her first book, Access Denied. - The book is a personal account of confronting bias while pursuing homeownership and building a real estate career. - Botsoe was born in Ghana, came to the U.S. at age 17, and later moved to Washington, D.C. before settling in Westchester County, New York. - The book is currently available on Amazon.com.

The details: - Botsoe says she first experienced discrimination while house-hunting in Westchester County, New York, and Fairfield County, Connecticut. - Agents told her she would not be happy in certain neighborhoods because she would be the only Black person there. - That experience pushed Botsoe toward real estate so she could help other buyers facing similar barriers. - Botsoe went on to earn more than a dozen real estate certifications. - She served as a New York State real estate instructor for more than 27 years. - She received New York State and local Realtor Association Realtor of the Year awards. - In 2017, Botsoe became the first Black president of the Hudson Gateway Association of Realtors in its 100-year history. - Botsoe opened Dorothy Jensen Realty Inc. in White Plains in 1995. - She earned a B.A. in Business Administration from SUNY Purchase. - Botsoe has served on numerous committees and held executive roles in local, New York State and national Realtor associations. - She currently serves on the Board of Directors and Diversity Committee for the National Association of Realtors. - Botsoe has also worked with Westchester Residential Opportunities for years and has been honored for her fair housing work.

Between the lines: - The book positions Botsoe’s career as proof that discrimination can be challenged through persistence, credentials and leadership. - Her comments suggest the real estate industry’s progress on fair housing has not eliminated bias in day-to-day housing searches. - The message is aimed at both consumers and agents: access to housing shapes opportunity, and real estate professionals can influence who gets through the door.

What's next: - Botsoe is using Access Denied to share lessons on resilience, integrity, dignity and professional success. - The book is likely to serve as a calling card for speaking, education and advocacy tied to fair housing and diversity in real estate. - Botsoe continues to hold leadership roles in the National Association of Realtors while remaining active in fair housing work.

The bottom line: - Access Denied is part memoir, part fair-housing statement, and part professional guide from a longtime real estate leader who says access should be opened for others, not just for herself.