Member-only story
ANTI-BLACK RACISM
New Research Sheds Light on the Legacy of America's Sundown Towns
Former sundown towns perpetuate anti-black attitudes
In a sundown town, Black people could not safely travel after sunset because the racist attitudes of residents created a hostile environment. Under the cover of darkness and no fear of legal consequences, some White Americans engaged in the shameful tradition of running Black people out of town. This was true for those Black people traveling through a rural town or trying to establish a home in a new area. At times, a sundown town had explicit laws banning Black people and other racial minorities from living there or traveling after dark. However, others relied upon an informal agreement. Sundown towns limited Black Americans' freedom to travel and access to diners, restaurants, hotels, and other amenities families needed.
One of the ways White people maintained the strict racial codes associated with sundown towns was violence, such as the use of racial terror lynchings. Not only would the initial tragedy leave the local black community heartbroken, but on a broader level, this violence would send a clear message that Black people could not expect to freely travel through or stop in their towns. In May of 1926, for instance, a White mob lynched Henry Patterson, a…
