Have you ever heard about townships where African Americans were commanded to leave before the sun set? These mysterious and eerie towns were referred to as "sundown towns." These sundown towns were once common throughout the United States. While most people think this is now a thing of the past, there are still some municipalities referred to as sundown towns in the U.S. This article will help you understand what sundown towns are and how they came to be.
Sundown towns were typically populated by whites who worked together to prevent African Americans from living there. This is because they considered blacks as inferior and undesirable. Laws, intimidation, and violence were used to enforce the guidelines. These racist practices were hidden from outsiders, so these towns appeared to be peaceful during the day.
In the following sections, we will delve into the history, tactics, and present state of sundown towns. We will also discuss the lingering effects of racism and discrimination that African Americans have faced.
what is a sundown town
A sundown town is a place where African Americans were forced to leave before sunset.
- Racist residential segregation
- White-only communities
- Sundown laws and intimidation
- Economic and social exclusion
- Racial violence and terror
- Hidden racism and discrimination
- Lingering effects on Black communities
- Ongoing fight for racial justice
- Historical and contemporary issue
Sundown towns were a dark chapter in American history. They are a reminder of the racism and discrimination that African Americans have faced.