Lecture: Jim Crow of the North and Racial Covenants in Minneapolis
Introduction
Narrator: Toussaint Morrison
Documentary: "Jim Crow of the North"
Focus: Racial covenants in Minneapolis and their impact on racial segregation and disparities in Minnesota.
Project: Mapping Prejudice Project at the University of Minnesota aims to document race-based restrictions in property deeds.
Historical Context
1909 Incident: Over 100 people marched to stop an African American family from moving into a white neighborhood in Minneapolis.
Racial Covenants: Legal tools used to enforce racial segregation by restricting property ownership and occupancy based on race.
Impact: Contributed to residential segregation and racial disparities.
Key Figures and Events
Frank Wheaton: African American lawyer and politician in Minneapolis; worked on civil rights legislation.
Madison Jackson Family: First Black family in Prospect Park, faced community opposition but persisted in their residence.
William and Daisy Simpson: Friends of the Jacksons who faced increased resistance upon attempting to settle in the neighborhood.
Development and Implementation of Racial Covenants
Edmund G. Walton: Real estate developer known for implementing racial covenants in Minneapolis.
Federal Government Role: Encouraged and demanded racial covenants to protect investments.
Mapping Prejudice Project Findings: Researchers have identified thousands of deeds with racially restrictive covenants.
Social and Legal Implications
Real Estate Practices: Racial covenants were used by developers to maintain racial segregation.
Supreme Court Rulings: Upheld the legality of restrictive covenants in Corrigan v. Buckley; later challenged in Shelley v. Kraemer.
Impact of Racial Covenants and Redlining
Redlining: FHA maps designated areas based on racial composition, affecting mortgage availability.
Home Ownership Disparities: Racial covenants prevented African Americans from acquiring property and building wealth.
Covenants and Urban Planning: Shaped urban landscapes and reinforced racial boundaries.
Resistance and Advocacy
NAACP and Legal Efforts: Fought against racial covenants and housing discrimination.
Community Activism: Local organizations and individuals worked to challenge segregation and promote fair housing laws.
Legacy and Continued Challenges
Housing and Wealth Gap: Racial covenants contributed to long-standing disparities in home ownership and wealth accumulation.
Mapping Prejudice Project: Aims to raise awareness and provide data for addressing historical injustices.
Future Directions: Importance of acknowledging history and addressing systemic issues to create equitable communities.
Conclusion
Reflection: The history of racial covenants in Minneapolis serves as a reminder of systemic racism and the need for active efforts to dismantle inequities and promote racial justice.