{"id":5576,"date":"2022-10-19T16:51:47","date_gmt":"2022-10-19T16:51:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/greenbookglobal.com\/travel-the-world\/?p=5576"},"modified":"2025-06-12T20:03:27","modified_gmt":"2025-06-12T20:03:27","slug":"what-is-a-sundown-town","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/greenbookglobal.com\/travel-the-world\/what-is-a-sundown-town\/","title":{"rendered":"What is a Sundown Town? A Dark History of Exclusion"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Few Americans know the term “sundown town,” yet the phenomenon is ubiquitous in our country’s history. So what is a sundown town? It is any municipality that uses intimidation to deliberately exclude non-white people from its borders after sunset.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We will explore the history of sundown towns. Their impact on American communities. They continue to exist despite our nation’s attempt at progress towards racial equity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Sundown<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

What is a Sundown Town? –  The Origins<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The earliest sundown towns were established in the aftermath of the Civil War. It was driven by white Southerners who were determined to maintain their dominance over Black Americans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Historians believe there were approximately 10,000 in the U.S from 1890-1960. Most of them were located in the Midwest and West.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sundown Town is a descriptor for any community that uses fear to keep out non-white people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Sundown<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

What is a Sundown Town? – It’s Legacy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It has profoundly impacted American communities. Both racially and economically. By design, they exclude a large portion of the population. Specifically black and brown people. Participating in local commerce intentionally leads to stagnation and decline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition, sundown towns’ legacy contributed heavily to residential segregation. Which has a host of negative consequences. It led to black-segregated neighborhoods having poorer educational outcomes, higher crime rates, and reduced social mobility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although this was very apparent. There were still towns that refused to change even after desegregation. In some cases, local residents would rather see their town die than allow people of color to live there. This racism resulted in the further decline of already struggling communities. In particular, the black community experienced over 400 years of slavery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not surprisingly, many people are still unaware of the existence of it. As a result, many people grew up believing that their town’s lack of diversity was natural. However, in reality it was the result of racist exclusion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Its legacy is still very much alive today. There was even a recent account in Vidor, Texas that was captured on TikTok.<\/u> In order to create more inclusive and thriving communities. It is essential that we acknowledge the role that racism has played in their development.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n\n

Learn More about Sundown Towns on our Site:<\/p>\n\n\n\n