In the 1950s and 1960s, Procope sold insurance but focused herprodigious energies on real estate development, rehabilitating andselling about 500 brownstones in Brooklyn from 1955 through 1970.In March 1956, she was featured on the cover of Jet magazine, underthe headline: "New York's lady builder--The first Negro woman tobuild homes in New York state."

Minorities in the insurance industry
ManyAfrican Americans started their insurance careers as debit-lifesalesmen in minority communities in the early years of the 20thcentury. Minority property/casualty agents were basically limitedto personal lines, and even in that arena they faced a big handicapbecause they usually had to work with nonstandard, high-riskmarkets that charged minorities high rates, regardless of theirdriving record or condition of their homes.

Things started changing rapidly in the mid-to-late 1960s. Afterthe inner-city riots broke out, insurers pulled out of minorityneighborhoods and stopped writing home insurance in the infamouspractice known as redlining.

The civil rights movement and the demands by minorities to gettheir fair share of the America's wealth caused a sea change in the1960s and 1970s. With the advent of affirmative action, doors beganto open for minorities, who also began taking advantage of industryeducational programs. America's first black CPCU, Shirley Clarke,worked at E.G. Bowman from 1969 to 1986.

Today, minority employment in the industry is huge. At agenciesand brokerages, minorities accounted for 27 percent of allemployees and 10 percent of all executives and senior managers in2007, according to the U.S. Equal Opportunity Commission (EOC). Atcarriers, minorities made up 25 percent of the workforce and 10percent of executives and senior managers, according to theEOC.

Several big insurers have won kudos for diversity. At Aflac,minorities represent 40 percent of its nearly 4,400 employees, withmore than half in management. Black Enterprise, which rated the 40best companies for diversity in 2008, named three insurancecompanies--Aetna, Aflac and State Farm--to that list. Aetna wascited for its Diverse Discoveries Program, which provides careertraining, mentoring and coaching. Aflac was commended forconducting employee satisfaction surveys after diversity events.State Farm has seen a 15 percent rise in participation in employeeresource groups, set up to foster a diverse workforce.

Various organizations promote minorities in the insuranceindustry. The Washington, D.C.-based National African-AmericanInsurance Assn. is dedicated to empowering African-Americaninsurance professionals currently in the industry and increasingtheir numbers nationwide. Established in 1998, the Latin AmericanAgents Association serves agent who provide insurance services tothe Hispanic community and other minorities.

While minorities have made real progress in the industry, thestruggle for equality continues. Until minority membersproportionately populate the ranks of senior executives andminority-owned brokers have the same access as other firms, therewon't be true success.