Unjust Deeds: A History of Racial Covenants in Dane County and Beyond - A Traveling Historical Exhibit
More Information at Dane County Historical Society
PRESENTED BY RICK BERENSTEIN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE DANE COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
For most of the 20th century, racial covenants were an insidious tool used nationwide to segregate whites from Blacks and other minorities in America’s burgeoning suburbs and residential neighborhoods. Racial covenants were clauses inserted into property deeds to prevent non-Whites and non-Christians from buying or occupying land. Although no longer valid or enforceable, they can still be found in the land deeds of almost every American community, including Dane County.
Racial covenants were made illegal with the passage of the Fair Housing Act in 1968. Nevertheless, their impacts are pervasive and still with us today. This program, presented by local historian Rick Bernstein, will explore the history of racial covenants in Dane County and nationwide. Through the month of November, you can also learn about this through the traveling exhibit which you can view at the library.
Support for this program was provided by Beyond-the-Page, Dane County Library Services.