Module 3: History
Part 10: SUNDOWN TOWNS
This part explores "Sundown Towns" and how the legacy of these towns persists even today.
&1: SUNDOWN TOWNS
Segregation and racism didn’t end with Jim Crow laws and wasn’t contained to the southern states. In what James Loewen calls “a hidden dimension of American racism”, there were towns where People of Color were not welcome, especially after dark. These towns became known as “Sundown Towns.” You can learn more about them in the following resources. There is also a link to a more extensive interview with James Loewen about his book “Sundown Towns: A Hidden Dimension of American Racism.”
Read:
The Secret History of New England’s Sundown Towns
https://portside.org/2020-06-23/secret-history-new-englands-sundown-towns
“Sundown Towns”: Midwest Confronts Its Complicated Racial Legacy
https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Society/2017/0327/Sundown-towns-Midwest-confronts-its-complicated-racial-legacy
Watch:
The History of Sundown Towns
https://www.msnbc.com/melissa-harris-perry/watch/the-history-of-sundown-towns-318926915949
Explore:
Sundown Towns: A Hidden Dimension of American Racism
https://sundown.tougaloo.edu/sundowntowns.php
While towns may no longer be explicit “sundown towns”, Morgan Jerkins provides insight into how many towns are still unsafe for Black people, especially after dark.
Read:
Think Sundown Towns Are a Thing of the Past? Think Again
https://gen.medium.com/think-sundown-towns-are-a-thing-of-the-past-think-again-21b9e025157b
The James Loewen interview with C-SPAN and an excerpt from the introduction of his book can be found at the following links:
Watch:
Sundown Towns: A Hidden Dimension of American Racism (James Loewen interview)
https://www.c-span.org/video/?189492-2/sundown-towns-hidden-dimension-american-racism
Read:
Sundown Towns: The Importance of Sundown Towns (book excerpt)
http://sundown.tougaloo.edu/content/sundown-introduction.pdf
Teaching Tolerance provides methods for engaging students in learning about sundown towns.
Read:
Does My Town Have a Racist Past?
https://www.tolerance.org/magazine/spring-2008/does-my-town-have-a-racist-past
Reflect:
The next part will explore redlining and gentrification and the impacts on race, housing, and wealth in the United States.
Read:
The Secret History of New England’s Sundown Towns
https://portside.org/2020-06-23/secret-history-new-englands-sundown-towns
“Sundown Towns”: Midwest Confronts Its Complicated Racial Legacy
https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Society/2017/0327/Sundown-towns-Midwest-confronts-its-complicated-racial-legacy
Watch:
The History of Sundown Towns
https://www.msnbc.com/melissa-harris-perry/watch/the-history-of-sundown-towns-318926915949
Explore:
Sundown Towns: A Hidden Dimension of American Racism
https://sundown.tougaloo.edu/sundowntowns.php
While towns may no longer be explicit “sundown towns”, Morgan Jerkins provides insight into how many towns are still unsafe for Black people, especially after dark.
Read:
Think Sundown Towns Are a Thing of the Past? Think Again
https://gen.medium.com/think-sundown-towns-are-a-thing-of-the-past-think-again-21b9e025157b
The James Loewen interview with C-SPAN and an excerpt from the introduction of his book can be found at the following links:
Watch:
Sundown Towns: A Hidden Dimension of American Racism (James Loewen interview)
https://www.c-span.org/video/?189492-2/sundown-towns-hidden-dimension-american-racism
Read:
Sundown Towns: The Importance of Sundown Towns (book excerpt)
http://sundown.tougaloo.edu/content/sundown-introduction.pdf
Teaching Tolerance provides methods for engaging students in learning about sundown towns.
Read:
Does My Town Have a Racist Past?
https://www.tolerance.org/magazine/spring-2008/does-my-town-have-a-racist-past
Reflect:
- What did you learn from these resources?
- How does this learning impact your view of history and of our current society?
- How does this learning inspire you to take action? What are your next steps?
The next part will explore redlining and gentrification and the impacts on race, housing, and wealth in the United States.
