[blockquote type=”center”]”By the end of World War II, the housing pressure in African American neighborhoods in inner cities was enormous, greater even than the pent-up postwar demand among white families. A 1943 memo of the Illinois Interracial Commission pointed out that 80% of the black population of Chicago was packed into less than 5 square miles, making dwelling units ‘unbelievably crowded.’…Almost every suburb that sprang up or expanded after World War II was whites-only.” (127)[/blockquote]

How did all of this come to be? One answer is the seemingly boring world of governmental zoning. By limiting what could be built where, cities could ban: [blockquote type=”center”]”mobile homes, public housing, subsidized housing, housing for the elderly, and apartments – and thus the kind of people who would live in such housing…Race, not the market, usually underlies suburban vetoes of public housing and subsidized housing.” (252)[/blockquote]

The segregation of America was explicit. The life most of us are living was desired by our ancestors. They wanted separate schools, churches, cities, and neighborhoods and we all reaped the results. Now what?

[blockquote type=”center”]“Many sundown suburbs thus exemplify what urban sociologists call ‘defended neighborhoods.’ Sidewalks and bike paths are rare and do not connect to those in other communities inhabited by residents of lower social and racial status. Some white suburbs of San Francisco opted out of the Bay Area Rapid Transit system, fearing it might encourage African Americans to move in.” (255)[/blockquote]

Is your neighborhood defended, or is it welcoming to the public? What is the social make-up of your neighborhood, your city? Where are the boundary lines and how do people describe the various sections? How do your friends talk about different neighborhoods? What are some of the unspoken or jokingly spoken assumptions about your surrounding neighborhoods?

[blockquote type=”center”]”Highland Park, Texas, has been a leader in criminalizing ordinary behavior….[they have] made it illegal to eat lunch in its portion of Lakeside [Park]…Highland Park also prohibits swimming, wading, climbing trees, drinking alcohol, sleeping….Outsiders cannot play tennis; reservations are for residents only, and it is illegal to play without one. In 1982, the suburb made headlines for ticketing thirteen joggers, ten of whom were nonresidents, for jogging on city streets.” (256)[/blockquote]

Have you ever heard of or seen ordinary behaviors criminalized? Do you know of any restrictions on use or activities like Highland Park? Should restrictions like that exist? Who do they benefit? Who do they exclude?

Are there any clubs or organizations you belong to that have membership restrictions?

Who do they keep out? Who do they let in, and why?

[container]

This series is available in a handy 40 page pdf that includes journaling space for the personal questions.

Buy now

[/container]
[container]

An Integrated Life

a series studying the book Sundown Towns by James Loewen

[/container]

[container]
Part 1 – A Series
Part 2 – Our Racist Foundations
Part 3 – What Are We Taught Is Normal?
Part 4 – All Whites Are Responsible
Part 5 – What Are You Known For Supporting
Part 6 – What Makes You Stay Silent?
Part 7 – Gravitating Towards the Comfortable
Part 8 – Social Exclusion
Part 9 – Restrictive Covenants and Governments
Part 10 – Do You Live in a Sundown Town? Before You Say No…
Part 11 – Still Forming Sundown Towns Today
Part 12 – Sundown Suburbs = NIMBY

[/container]