Ayana Explains Florida's Race Problem

People traveling by car or to certain areas of the US, particularly Florida, this Summer may be driving scared.  What’s that?  That’s like driving dirty only the dirt is the color of your skin.  IVE GOT SOME EXPLAINING TO DO LETS GET INTO IT.

[intro]

On May 23, 2023, the NAACP issued a formal travel advisory for the State of Florida in direct response to Governor Ron DeSantis' aggressive attempts to erase Black history and to restrict diversity, equity, and inclusion programs in Florida schools. 

The formal travel notice states, "Florida is openly hostile toward African Americans, people of color and LGBTQ+ individuals. Before traveling to Florida, please understand that the state of Florida devalues and marginalizes the contributions of, and the challenges faced by African Americans and other communities of color." 

Florida has become hostile to Black Americans (and I’ll add Hispanics, as well) and in direct conflict with the democratic ideals that our union was founded upon. https://naacp.org/articles/naacp-issues-travel-advisory-florida

This is not the first time Florida has been deemed hostile to Black Americans

After the end of Reconstruction, towns and counties across the country became so called, “sundown towns.” These were all white communities that intentionally kept Blacks out of town, by force, law or custom. Some even posted signs warning, “*egro” Don’t Let The Sun Go Down on You" or “We Want White Tenants In Our Community.” Blacks knew that to mean they could face violence or even death if they were caught in town after dark.

“Often, people of different backgrounds or ethnicities could work or be there to help stimulate the economy, but could not remain there after sunset,” said Pam Schwartz, chief curator of the Orange County Regional History Center, which produced an exhibit detailing what led up to the Ocoee Massacre and what followed. The Ocoee massacre was a mass racial violence event that saw a white mob attack numerous African-American residents in the northern parts of Ocoee, Florida, a town located in Orange County near Orlando. The massacre took place on November 2, 1920, the day of the U.S. presidential election.^[4]

By most estimates, a total of 30–35 black people were killed in the violence.^[1][2][3] Most African American-owned buildings and residences in northern Ocoee were burned to the ground. Other African Americans living in southern Ocoee were later killed or driven out of town by the threat of further violence being used against them. Thus, Ocoee essentially became an all-white or "sundown" town. The massacre has been described as the "single bloodiest day in modern American political history".^[2]

The attack was intended to prevent black citizens from voting. Black people had essentially been disenfranchised in Florida since the beginning of the 20th century. In Ocoee and across the state, various black organizations had been conducting voter registration drives for a year.

“Especially after dark is when most crime happens. White people thought by keeping these individuals out, the community would be safer. That was the white people’s beliefs.”

Sometime after the 1920 Ocoee Massacre, the bloodiest day in modern American political history, Ocoee became a sundown town. After the massacre, Blacks were forced out of Ocoee. Their homes, schools and churches were burned by an angry white mob, upset that Black residents had tried to vote in the presidential election. But they also wanted their land.  As late as recently as the late 1990s, Ocoee was still considered a sundown town In 2018, the city issued a proclamation acknowledging the massacre and in it, wrote: “Let it be known that Ocoee shall no longer be the sundown city but the sunrise city, with the bright light of harmony, justice, and prosperity shining upon all our citizens.”  https://www.wftv.com/ocoee/sundown-town/

Throughout the history of the United States, various forms of racial discrimination have marred the nation's progress towards equality and justice. One such grim aspect is the existence of "sundown towns." These towns, predominantly found throughout the US, enforced strict racial segregation by intimidating or excluding African Americans and other minority groups after sunset. Sundown towns serve as a painful reminder of the deep-rooted racism that has shaped America's past and continue to influence its present.

Historical Origins:

The origins of sundown towns can be traced back to the post-Civil War era when African Americans gained some semblance of freedom through the Emancipation Proclamation and the abolition of slavery. However, the racial tensions and hostilities that permeated the country's social fabric were far from over. In response to the increasing migration of African Americans to the North in search of better opportunities, some white communities sought to maintain racial homogeneity by implementing exclusionary practices.

Sundown towns emerged in response to the Great Migration, a period when large numbers of African Americans moved from the rural South to Northern and Midwestern cities in search of better economic opportunities. The arrival of African Americans threatened the racial homogeneity that some white communities sought to maintain. In response, they implemented exclusionary policies to keep African Americans out of their towns.

Characteristics and Enforcement:

Sundown towns were characterized by strict segregation policies that prohibited African Americans from residing within their limits, particularly after sundown. These towns often had signage at their entrances with explicit warnings such as "N*****, Don't Let The Sun Go Down On You In ___." The purpose of these signs and policies was to intimidate and deter African Americans from entering or staying within the town's boundaries, thus perpetuating racial segregation.  Enforcement methods varied from overt violence and threats to more subtle forms of discrimination. African Americans who accidentally found themselves in sundown towns after dark faced the risk of verbal abuse, physical harm, and even lynching. The presence of law enforcement officers often bolstered these practices, as they either turned a blind eye to racial violence or actively participated in it.

In Florida, local historians Marvin Dunn and Dr. Paul George say many towns with “beach” in their names were “Sundown Towns” because Black people had to be off the beach after dark.  Many others cite Coral Gables as a sundown town.  In addition, Gulfport, or the entire Pinellas communities.  At times, they also excluded Jewish people, Latinos, and anyone considered not to be white. https://www.nbcmiami.com/investigations/sundown-towns-a-look-at-south-floridas-legacy-of-segregation/2386799/

Cities with Black populations, by law in Florida, had to be racially segregated—separate drinking fountains, bathrooms, entrances, etc.

And to say that this is no longer Florida’s reality ignores the very real issue of low Black populations in these cities despite “the end of segregation,” and “the we’re no longer a sundown town,” talk.  Some cities hover at 4-6% Black American populations. 

These patterns of exclusion occurred throughout America, and well into the 20th century. In the years before the Civil War, legislators in California, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, and Oregon even passed laws to outlaw former slaves from entering these “sundown states.” Some of these laws persisted as troops from those states fought against the Confederacy during the Civil War. Oregon’s law remained on the books until 1926.  Sundown suburbs” also appeared, often created as zones for those who left urban areas during periods of white flight. Levittown, located on Long Island and one of the best-known postwar American suburbs, enacted prohibitions during the 1950s that prevented non-whites from living in that New York community.

https://thegabber.com/southern-pinellas-sundown-towns/

There is a town in Ohio, unofficially known as “East Jackson,” it is a part of the township of Waverly. Ohio was established as a free state at the start of the 19th century, but those fleeing slavery used Ohio’s underground railroads avoided Waverly. It was anti-abolition and anti-black. It was also a sundown town, where Blacks were so hated that city officials created a section of the city just for Blacks. They corralled anyone Black or deemed Black because of their appearance, or by second-class status because they were laborers or housekeepers, into the smaller town. Some forced to stay in East Jackson were not black, but because they all lived in East Jackson, grew up together and were treated as black by law, a community that identified as black took root. They married across racial lines, and had multiracial children. Over generations, as fewer black people sought this area out, black heritage thinned out. But black identity did not.

During that time, Blacks in Ohio were subjected to “black laws” including the one-drop rule – that one drop of “black blood” disqualified an individual from having the legal status of whites – which became a widely accepted social attitude in Ohio beginning in the 1860s.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/jul/25/race-east-jackson-ohio-appalachia-white-black

East Jackson, or “E.J.”, is a community of black, white, and mixed individuals, that doesn’t exist on any map. The people that call East Jackson home have been raised in the shadows of a sundown town, and its lingering legacy of discrimination. These residents have faced racism and more institutionalized forms of discrimination. While there is still friction with neighboring town of Waverly, the people that live in this small community have created an environment of support and comradery for one another.

“If you want jobs you gonna have to move. For one thing there’s no jobs here, and the jobs here, like at the plant down there in Piketon, most of those people hired here in the 50s…now their grandkids are working there,” said Jackson. Discrimination in Waverly and the surrounding area is not as overt as it once was, but it’s still present.

https://2016.soulofathens.com/sundowntowns.html

Sundown towns were not a Southern phenomenon, noooo, quite the contrary.  But sundown towns and segregated communities are not one in the same—the latter is carefully constructed through restrictive racial covenants and red lining whereas the former is created by violence and intimidation used to keep Blacks away.  Waverly, Niles, Syracuse, Marion, Ohio are all sundown towns though not expressly or explicitly known, it is through anecdotal evidence and word of mouth that we know these towns are not Black-friendly.

https://news.wosu.org/2023-04-03/were-there-sundown-towns-in-central-ohio

And while it no longer exists, there was a time when Blacks knew exactly where not to stop while traversing parts of the US.

The Green Book:

The Green Book, officially titled "The Negro Motorist Green Book," was a travel guidebook specifically designed for African American travelers during the era of racial segregation in the United States. It was published annually from 1936 to 1967 by Victor H. Green, a postal worker from New York City.

The Negro Motorist Green Book, published 1936-1964, was more than a guide book; it was a lifesaver in the racist world of southern and western US states, featuring motels and businesses that extended their services to black travellers before the civil rights movement helped bring about change

The Green Book provided African American travelers with information on safe and accommodating establishments, such as hotels, restaurants, gas stations, and other services, where they would be welcomed and treated with dignity. It aimed to assist African Americans in navigating the often hostile and discriminatory landscape they encountered while traveling, particularly in the Jim Crow South.

During that time, racial segregation was enforced by laws and social customs, resulting in widespread discrimination and limited access to services for African Americans. The Green Book helped travelers plan their routes and find establishments that were willing to serve them, reducing the risks and challenges they faced on the road.

The guidebook included listings of businesses that were friendly to African Americans, with detailed descriptions of their services and the level of hospitality they provided. It also featured articles, essays, and travel tips written by prominent African American journalists and writers.

The Green Book became an indispensable resource for African American travelers, providing them with a sense of safety and empowerment. It allowed them to explore parts of the country that would have otherwise been daunting or dangerous. Despite its limitations, the guidebook played a vital role in supporting African American mobility and autonomy during a time of systemic racism and segregation.

As the Civil Rights Movement gained momentum and the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was passed, the need for The Green Book diminished. The guidebook ceased publication in 1967, as racial discrimination in public accommodations became illegal. Today, The Green Book serves as a poignant reminder of the challenges faced by African Americans during the era of segregation and as a testament to their resilience and determination to navigate an unjust system.

Along the famous Route 66, there were 250 Green Book sites listed, and today over half are gone but some remain in Arizona, California, New Mexico and Texas. No longer the sites that excluded people of different races from stopping and patronizing, some flop houses, restaurants, small shops, motels.

This is going to sound familiar to people who look like me but when you stop or drive through a city or town and you don’t see people who look like you, when you go to Walmart or iHop and you don’t see people who look like you, you panic, there are places like that in many Northern States, it isn’t just Florida or Georgia, Alabama or Texas where you wonder how you’ll be treated or received, you wonder if someone is going to give you are hard time or spit in your food or ask you to show a receipt  for your purchase or accuse you of stealing.  My son attends college in a town that gave me that same uneasy feeling.  We went to the Walmart after dropping him at school for the first time…

Black people are still having to outwit racists and we do so through new methods—social media.  We discuss Black friendly places and places where we find anti-Black activity.  We tell each other neighborhoods to avoid and places to patronize that are Black-owned. 

So many towns in the US with Black populations, it seems, is fighting against racism—from law enforcement, legislators, shop owners, teachers, school administrators, neighbor versus neighbor.  Recently, Antioch California and McCurtain County, Oklahoma have had law enforcement scandals that show targeted acts of racism against citizens, and other members of law enforcement.

Ethnic exclusions (wiki)

African Americans were not the only minority group not allowed to live in white towns or traverse through. Hispanics, Chinese people, Native Americans, Japanese Americans, for instance.  Towns in Colorado had “no Mexicans after night,” and in Connecticut, “Whites only within city limits after dark.”  California towns posted signs that barred Chinese residents from being out in public after dark. White residents drove Chinese immigrants out of the state of Idaho.  This is how “China Town,” and other ethnic enclaves were created—the need to live freely.  We don’t call it China Town anymore, because things have changed.  Or have they?

The towns of Minden, Nevada, and Gardnerville, Nevada, had an ordinance from 1917 to 1974 that required Native Americans to leave the towns by 6:30 p.m. each day.^[25] A whistle, later a siren, was sounded at 6 p.m. daily alerting Native Americans to leave by sundown.^{[24]: 23 [25]} In 2021, the state of Nevada passed a law prohibiting the appropriation of Native American imagery by the mascots of schools, and the sounding of sirens that were once associated with Sundown ordinances. Despite this law, Minden has continued to play its siren, claiming it as being a nightly tribute to first responders. In Nevada, the ban was expanded to include Japanese Americans.^[30]

In Maria Marulanda's 2011 article in the Fordham Law Review titled "Preemption, Patchwork Immigration Laws, and the Potential for Brown Sundown Towns", Marulanda outlines the possibility for non-blacks to be excluded from towns in the United States. Marulanda argued that immigration laws and ordinances in certain municipalities could create similar situations to those experienced by African Americans in sundown towns. Hispanic Americans are likely to suffer, despite the purported target being undocumented immigrants, in these cases of racial exclusion.^[32]

Societal Impact and Consequences:

The existence of sundown towns had far-reaching consequences on African American communities. The fear instilled by these towns perpetuated a culture of self-censorship and hyper-vigilance among African Americans, preventing them from freely moving or settling in areas outside predominantly Black neighborhoods. The denial of economic opportunities, housing, and education in sundown towns contributed to the systemic impoverishment and marginalization of African Americans.

Furthermore, the exclusionary practices of sundown towns reinforced racial stereotypes, perpetuated discrimination, and hindered the overall progress towards racial equality in the United States. These towns represented a deliberate attempt by white communities to assert their racial superiority and maintain social dominance.

According to James Loewen, passed away in 2021 was an authority on sundown towns, he compiled a state-by-state database of sundown towns that continues after his death, he discovered that there were more than 200 sundown towns in Missouri alone. And the 2020 census showed that, with one example of Sullivan, MO, in 2010, according to the US Census .2% of it’s 7,000 person population was Black.  In 2014, a group of 15 white schoolgirls blacked up their faces for a game of football. A few months prior as riots blazed in Ferguson after the police shooting of Michael Brown, a group of Sullivan residents, Wehmeyer’s neighbour among them, staged a KKK march through town.  The legacy of racial segregation is clear and it cannot be wished away. It cannot be hoped away.  It must be dealt with.  Sullivan now has a Black population of 3%

Check out James Loewen’s database at Tougaloo College, out of Jackson, MS, at https://justice.tougaloo.edu/sundown-towns/using-the-sundown-towns-database/state-map/

If you go to a majority White town and ask them if race has ever been an issue, they’re likely to say no and of course.  But racial profiling and sour treatment or the presence of hate groups targeting Blacks and other non-Whites or discriminatory policies, such as in housing and employment tell a different story.  If you talk to Black residents you may learn the truth about race being an issue. 

Addressing Sundown Towns and Moving Forward:

Recognizing the historical significance of sundown towns is crucial in understanding the racial dynamics that still affect American society. It is essential to acknowledge the pain and trauma inflicted upon African Americans and other marginalized groups through such practices. Public education, historical preservation, and open dialogues are necessary to confront this dark chapter in American history.

Florida has a history of racial segregation that it is trying to distance itself from but by pretending it did not exist, it’s doing a poor job of that. The people remember.  The internet remembers!  I remember watching a movie called “Rosewood” a 1997 film directed by the late John Singleton, inspired by the 1923 Rosewood massacre in Florida, when a white mob killed black people and destroyed their town.  The Rosewood massacre was a racially motivated massacre of black people and the destruction of a black town that took place during the first week of January 1923 in rural Levy County, Florida, United States. At least six black people and two white people were killed, but eyewitness accounts suggested a higher death toll of 27 to 150. The town of Rosewood was destroyed in what contemporary news reports characterized as a race riot. Florida had an especially high number of lynchings of black men in the years before the massacre,^[2] including a well-publicized incident in December 1922.^{[citation needed]}

Before the massacre, the town of Rosewood had been a quiet, primarily black, self-sufficient whistle stop on the Seaboard Air Line Railway. Trouble began when white men from several nearby towns lynched a black Rosewood resident because of accusations that a white woman in nearby Sumner had been assaulted by a black drifter. A mob of several hundred whites combed the countryside hunting for black people and burned almost every structure in Rosewood. For several days, survivors from the town hid in nearby swamps until they were evacuated to larger towns by train and car. No arrests were made for what happened in Rosewood. The town was abandoned by its former black and white residents; none of them ever moved back and the town ceased to exist.

Although the rioting was widely reported around the United States at the time, few official records documented the event. The survivors, their descendants, and the perpetrators all remained silent about Rosewood for decades. Sixty years after the rioting, the story of Rosewood was revived by major media outlets when several journalists covered it in the early 1980s. The survivors and their descendants all organized in an attempt to sue the state for failing to protect Rosewood's black community. In 1993, the Florida Legislature commissioned a report on the incident. As a result of the findings, Florida compensated the survivors and their descendants for the damages which they had incurred because of racial violence. The incident was the subject of a 1997 feature film which was directed by John Singleton. In 2004, the state designated the site of Rosewood as a Florida Heritage Landmark.

Officially, the recorded death toll during the first week of January 1923 was eight (six blacks and two whites). Some survivors' stories claim that up to 27 black residents were killed, and they also assert that newspapers did not report the total number of white deaths. Minnie Lee Langley, who was in the Carrier house when it was besieged, recalls that she stepped over many white bodies on the porch when she left the house.^[3] A newspaper article which was published in 1984 stated that estimates of up to 150 victims may have been exaggerations.^[4] Several eyewitnesses claim to have seen a mass grave which was filled with the bodies of black people; one of them remembers seeing 26 bodies being covered with a plow which was brought from Cedar Key. However, by the time authorities investigated these claims, most of the witnesses were dead or too elderly and infirm to lead them to a site to confirm the stories.^[5]

Efforts to dismantle systemic racism and promote inclusivity must continue. Local governments and community leaders should actively work to rectify the legacies of sundown towns by addressing racial disparities in housing, education, and employment opportunities. Encouraging diversity and cultural understanding through policy reforms and initiatives can help foster a more inclusive society.

Conclusion:

Sundown towns represent a deeply troubling aspect of American history, reflecting the persistence of racial discrimination and oppression. The existence of these towns enforced racial segregation and perpetuated a climate of fear and violence. Recognizing this historical injustice is crucial for understanding the challenges that marginalized communities face in their pursuit of equality and justice. By acknowledging and actively working to dismantle the remnants of sundown towns, society can take a significant step towards building a more inclusive and equitable future.

write a podcast episode about "sundown towns"

Host: The impact of sundown towns must have been devastating for African American communities. Can you elaborate on the consequences?

Sundown towns had a profound impact on African American communities. The constant threat of violence and intimidation created a culture of fear and restricted African Americans' freedom of movement. This limited their access to economic opportunities, housing, and education. Sundown towns reinforced racial stereotypes, perpetuated discrimination, and deepened the systemic impoverishment and marginalization of African Americans.

It's disheartening to hear how deeply entrenched racism was during that time.  But what is equally disheartening is that people believe and advocate that this level of racism no longer exists and that our historically racist country is now safe for Black Americans, for Hispanics and Asians.  And superficially, perhaps that is the case, but if you peel back even one layer of this pearl onion you’ll find the truth—we have not reckoned with our past to declare that we have evolved and everything is equalized. 

Recognizing the historical significance of sundown towns and travel advisories warning Black people about the dangers of traveling to certain areas while Black, is an important step. We must acknowledge the pain and trauma inflicted upon African Americans and other marginalized groups through these practices. Education plays a crucial role. But there are certain places where schools are not allowed to teach the legacy of the Civil Rights movement, segregation/Jim Crow, American slavery, nothing about American history that involves the atrocities of racial hatred and genocide, of bigotry against races and immigrants, those things are not allowed teaching.  Though in Florida the governor passed a law requiring the teaching of Asian American history, what will he do when they get to the part about ethnic exclusion in the US that targeted Asians? Or WWII and the US interment camps of Japanese Americans? Or the racist language, literature, and hatred that forced Asians into ethic enclaves to preserve and protect their culture. Or they Anti-Asian hate law passed to protect Asians from violence during the Covid 19 pandemic?  If you want to teach history, you have to teach the uncomfortable, ugly parts.

You don’t want the US to be a racist country then why are you afraid to confront history and rectify the racial disparities that persist because of that history? Why are you afraid to promote diversity, improve access to education, and address housing and employment inequalities, health inequities. Why are you afraid to discuss or even acknowledge the racial dynamics that still impact our society today.

Black Americans in the 21^st century need to be aware that sundown towns are still a reality. Research revealed at least 60 of Kentucky’s 762 towns are sundown towns. I traveled to Kentucky recently, but I’m happy to report there were no incidents. “In his groundbreaking book, James Loewen said, “the biggest mistake that Black travelers can make is assuming that their sole issues exist in the American South, or that the concept of a sundown town is a relic of the past.”[10] Sundown towns are not a relic of the past. As I researched the history, I found the impact of sundown towns had far reaching results thanks to gerrymandering and redlining. Many rural and suburban communities were originally developed to be all-white. This resulted in blacks moving to urban areas or “urban ghettos” because blacks were banned from living or traveling in certain areas. [11] In 2021, when many of us were following the Ahmaud Arbery case, it brought a reminder to many that even jogging in certain areas can pose a risk, even during the day.

A news release dated February 16, 2022, announced that the City of South Pasadena California had passed Sundown Town Resolution 7750 condemning the city’s history as a Sundown Town and of Institutionalized Racism. [12] The Resolution will be posted online and on social media.[13]  Goshen City, Indiana was one of the earliest cities to unanimously approve a resolution confronting its racist past in 2015.[14] 

Few cities have dealt with their racist pasts, and we can’t fix what we won’t admit is broken. 

Few cities have dealt with their racist pasts, and we can’t fix what we won’t admit is broken. Each sundown town has to search its own soul and reckon with a past that still threatens the lives of non-white individuals. We’re not able to change the hearts and minds of all people, but we can develop and improve policies that protect the rights of all Americans to drive anywhere, and jog anywhere safely, regardless of the time of day or their skin color.  https://www.communitysolutions.com/driving-scared-is-your-town-a-sundown-town/

By confronting dark chapters of American history, we can challenge the systems and structures that perpetuate racial inequality. It's essential to work towards building an inclusive and equitable future where everyone feels safe and welcome, regardless of their background. 

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