Lecture on Racial Covenants and Housing Discrimination in Minneapolis
Introduction
Over 100 people marched to an African-American's house in Minneapolis in 1909 to prevent them from moving in.
The introduction of racial covenants followed, restricting properties to "Caucasians only."
Racial covenants became a tool for residential segregation and were backed by private property developers and later the federal government.
The Role of Racial Covenants
Racial covenants were legal contracts embedded in property deeds to prevent African-Americans from buying or occupying homes in certain neighborhoods.
First appeared in Minneapolis in 1910.
Developers and the federal government promoted the use of these covenants to "protect investments."
The Supreme Court upheld the legality of these covenants in the Corrigan v. Buckley case.
Historical Context and Impact
Racial covenants were part of a broader system of racial segregation, akin to "Jim Crow of the North."
The Mapping Prejudice Project reveals the extent of race-based property restrictions in Hennepin County.
The project aims to map all racial covenants, making the hidden history of segregation visible.
The project uses OCR technology and volunteers to transcribe and analyze deeds.
Case Study: Madison Jackson and William Simpson
Madison Jackson, an African-American, moved his family to Prospect Park, Minneapolis, eliciting protests from white residents.
Despite threats, Jackson and his neighbor William Simpson remained, marking a significant moment in local civil rights history.
The experience highlighted the racist attitudes and the threat of violence against African-Americans.
The Role of Federal Policies
The Fair Housing Act and the Home Owners Loan Corporation were established to stabilize the housing market but often reinforced segregation through redlining.
FHA maps categorized neighborhoods based on racial demographics, impacting mortgage access.
Persistence and Legacy of Racial Covenants
Racial covenants reinforced racial boundaries, even in areas without explicit covenants.
Urban planning and development often marginalized low-income and minority groups.
The spread of covenants and redlining shaped the racial landscape and wealth distribution in cities.
Legal Challenges and Changes
The Shelley v. Kramer case in the late 1940s challenged the enforceability of racial covenants.
Although the case did not end covenants, it marked a significant legal challenge against racial discrimination.
Contemporary Reflections
Despite the illegality of covenants, wealth inequalities persist, often rooted in historical practices.
Mapping Prejudice and similar initiatives aim to raise awareness and drive change by highlighting past injustices.
The project underscores the importance of acknowledging and addressing historical discrimination to foster equity.
Conclusion
Understanding racial covenants is crucial to comprehending the roots of racial segregation and economic disparity.
Efforts continue to rectify the legacy of these covenants and promote fair housing and equality.
The lecture emphasizes the transformative impact of recognizing and addressing systemic racism in housing.